ややもすれば

や

も

す

れ

ば

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

adverb

apt to; liable to; inclined to

usually written using kana alone

Used to describe a tendency, often an undesirable one. Typically appears in written or formal contexts. The phrase is somewhat literary.

彼かれはややもすれ

ば

感かん

情じょう

的てき

に

なり

がち

だ

。

He is apt to become emotional.

ややもすれば、人ひとは自じ分ぶんの都つ合ごうのいいように物もの事ごとを解かい釈しゃくしてしまう。

People are liable to interpret things in a way that suits them.

Usage patterns

ややもすれば〈事こと〉になるtends to result in ~
忙いそがしいと、ややもすれば健けん康こう管かん理りがおろそかになる。
When one is busy, health management tends to be neglected.
ややもすれば〈動どう詞し〉がちだis apt to (do) ~
子こ供どもはややもすれば甘あまえがちだ。
Children are apt to become spoiled.

Kanji

動move, motion, change

Related words

ともすれば
ともすれば and ややもすれば both mean 'apt to/tend to', but ややもすれば is slightly more literary and emphatic.
ともすると
ともすると is a common variant of ともすれば with the same meaning as ややもすれば, expressing an undesirable tendency, though ややもすれば sounds more formal.
得えてして
得てして also means 'apt to' but is used more colloquially and often pairs with がち, while ややもすれば has a more written, formal tone.
往おう々おうにして
往々にして emphasizes frequency ('often') rather than an inherent tendency, whereas ややもすれば stresses a natural or undesirable inclination.

Etymology

Derived from the adverb やや (a little) combined with the conditional form of する (すれば), literally 'if one does a little'. The kanji 動 (move) is likely an ateji or semantic association, but the exact origin is uncertain.