〜がちだ
-gachi da
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
tend to, prone to (usually undesirable)
〜がち means "tends to, is prone to" and describes something that happens more often than it should: skipping breakfast, getting sick, falling behind. The tendency is almost always undesirable.
Both registers. It attaches to a verb stem (抜きがち, 忘れがち, なりがち) or a noun (病気がち, 留守がち, 曇りがち). Before a noun it becomes がちな or がちの. Do not use it for good habits; for a slight current state use 〜気味.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Vます + がち / N + がち
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜がち | repeated tendency (bad) | 遅刻しがち (often late) |
| 〜気味 | slight current state | 疲れ気味 (a bit tired now) |
| 〜っぽい | quality / character | 忘れっぽい (forgetful by nature) |
Natural examples
最近、仕事が忙しくて、朝食を抜きがちだ。
さいきん、しごとがいそがしくて、ちょうしょくをぬきがちだ。
Lately I'm busy with work and tend to skip breakfast.
Vます + がち: a habit that has crept in.
子供の頃は病気がちだった。
こどものころはびょうきがちだった。
I was sickly as a child.
N + がち: 病気がち = often ill.
冬は運動不足になりがちです。
ふゆはうんどうぶそくになりがちです。
In winter, one tends to get too little exercise.
なりがち + です: polite general statement.
一人暮らしだと、食事が偏りがちになる。
ひとりぐらしだと、しょくじがかたよりがちになる。
When you live alone, your diet tends to become unbalanced.
がちになる = start tending to.
彼は最近、会議を休みがちだ。
かれはさいきん、かいぎをやすみがちだ。
Lately he has been missing meetings a lot.
Complaint about a person's pattern.
Similar grammar and the difference
A slight, present state (風邪気味), not a repeated tendency. Compare side by side
〜っぽい
An inherent quality (子供っぽい・忘れっぽい); がち is about frequency of events.
〜やすい
"Easy to / apt to", neutral; がち is negative and about habits.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 彼は勉強しがちだ。（praise）
- ✓
- 彼はよく勉強する。
- Why
- がち is reserved for undesirable tendencies.
- ✗
- 今日は少し疲れがちだ。
- ✓
- 今日は少し疲れ気味だ。
- Why
- A one-day state takes 気味; がち needs repetition over time.
- ✗
- 病気がち人
- ✓
- 病気がちな人 / 病気がちの人
- Why
- Before a noun, add な or の.
Frequent nouns: 病気がち, 留守がち, 曇りがち, 遠慮がち. Frequent verbs: 忘れがち, 遅れがち, なりがち, 思いがち, 見落としがち. 遠慮がちに (hesitantly) is a common adverbial use.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- A recurring bad habit (最近・つい・よく) with a Vます stem → がち; a slight state right now → 気味.
- Distractors are 気味, っぽい, やすい. If the sentence describes a person's inherent character, っぽい; if a mild present symptom, 気味.
- The noun-modifying form がちな is tested; options without な before a noun are traps.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜がちだ mean?
tend to, prone to (usually undesirable). 〜がち means "tends to, is prone to" and describes something that happens more often than it should: skipping breakfast, getting sick, falling behind. The tendency is almost always undesirable.
How do you form 〜がちだ?
Vます + がち / N + がち. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜がちだ used?
Both registers. It attaches to a verb stem (抜きがち, 忘れがち, なりがち) or a noun (病気がち, 留守がち, 曇りがち). Before a noun it becomes がちな or がちの. Do not use it for good habits; for a slight current state use 〜気味.
What is the difference between 〜がちだ and 〜気味?
A slight, present state (風邪気味), not a repeated tendency.
What is the difference between 〜がちだ and 〜っぽい?
An inherent quality (子供っぽい・忘れっぽい); がち is about frequency of events.
What is a common mistake with 〜がちだ?
Wrong: 彼は勉強しがちだ。（praise） Right: 彼はよく勉強する。 がち is reserved for undesirable tendencies.
Quick check
忙しいと、つい野菜を食べるのを忘れ（ ）。