癖
also: へき
Meanings
Usually refers to a personal habit, often a bad or annoying one, but can be neutral. Common in phrases like 癖になる (become a habit) or 癖がある (have a habit/peculiarity).
He has a habit of biting his nails.
This game is addictive (becomes a habit).
peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; mannerism; quirk
Only with reading くせ / クセ
Describes a distinctive personal trait, often a small oddity or characteristic way of doing something. Overlaps with sense 1 but emphasizes uniqueness rather than repetition.
She has a slight quirk in the way she speaks.
That author's writing style is strongly idiosyncratic.
Only with reading くせ / クセ
Refers to a physical irregularity: a crease in paper or cloth, a kink in hair or wire, a wrinkle. Often used with つく (癖がつく) or 直す (癖を直す).
This paper has a crease from being folded.
My hair has a strong kink, so mornings are tough.
Usage patterns
- 〈動詞〉癖があるto have a habit of doing something
He has a habit of scratching his head when he thinks.
- 癖を直すto correct/break a habit (or fix a crease/kink)
I want to break my habit of biting my nails.
- 癖が付くfor a crease/kink to form, or for a habit to take hold
My hair has a kink in it and won't lie flat.
- 癖が強いto have a strong quirk/eccentric character
That teacher is a very eccentric person.
Expressions· 8
- 悪い癖bad habit
- くせになるbecome a habit; be addictive; be moreish
- 癖のあるquirky; idiosyncratic; having a peculiar trait
- 爪を噛む癖nail-biting habit
- 難癖付けるfind fault with; blame; nitpick
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- 名馬に癖ありgreat men have eccentricities; fine horses have quirks
- 一癖も二癖もあるbe hard to deal with; be eccentric; be idiosyncratic
- 無くて七癖有って四十八癖everyone has their quirks