〜きらいがある: 'Has a (Bad) Tendency To' (Meaning + Examples)
Describing a recurring, undesirable habit
〜きらいがある attaches to a verb or noun and says the subject "tends to" behave a certain way — a mild, formal criticism rather than a one-off complaint. It shows up in essays, reports, and formal spoken commentary (news analysis, book reviews) more than everyday chat.
彼は物事を悲観的に考えるきらいがある。
かれは ものごとを ひかんてきに かんがえる きらいがある。
He has a tendency to think about things pessimistically.
Verb dictionary form + きらいがある.
やったんは楽しいことがあると、宿題を後回しにするきらいがある。
やったんは たのしい ことが あると、しゅくだいを あとまわしに するきらいがある。
Yattan has a tendency to put off his homework when something fun comes up.
Original example: a mild, affectionate criticism.
日本人は本音を隠すきらいがある。
にほんじんは ほんねを かくす きらいがある。
Japanese people tend to hide their true feelings.
Form: Verb (dictionary form) / Noun + の + きらいがある
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | Vる + きらいがある | 考えるきらいがある = tends to think... |
| Noun | N + の + きらいがある | 独断のきらいがある = tends toward being dogmatic |
私は細かいことを気にしすぎるきらいがある。
わたしは こまかい ことを きにしすぎる きらいがある。
I have a tendency to worry too much about small details.
Always about a flaw, never a virtue
〜きらいがある is reserved for undesirable tendencies — carelessness, bias, overreacting — and reads as a formal, somewhat detached observation rather than a blunt insult, which is why it's common in written critique. Don't reach for it to praise a habit; for a neutral or positive tendency, plain 〜がち or 〜傾向がある fits better.
The short version
- 〜きらいがある = "has a tendency to (do something undesirable)."
- Attaches to: verb dictionary form, or Noun + の.
- Nuance/register: formal, mildly critical, used for flaws/habits — not praise.
- Don't confuse with: 〜傾向がある, a more neutral "tendency" that works for good or bad habits alike.
Practice it
Choose the correct use of 〜きらいがある to describe a negative tendency.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
彼は物事を＿＿＿。
More N1 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜きっての — 〜きっての attaches after a place, group, or era to mean 'the foremost ... in/of [that group]' — always followed by a noun naming the superlative person or thing, like 業界きっての実力者.
- 〜極めて — 極めて (きわめて) is a formal adverb meaning 'extremely' or 'exceedingly' — placed before an adjective or verb to emphasize a very high degree, common in news, reports, and academic writing.
- 〜くらいなら — 〜くらいなら means 'rather than (do something bad), I'd prefer...' — it frames an option as so undesirable that almost any alternative, even a bad one, beats it. Often paired with ましだ or だったら.
- 〜にあって — 〜にあって is a formal, literary expression meaning 'in / at / under (a certain situation),' used to frame a difficult, unusual, or noteworthy circumstance before describing how someone acts within it.
- 〜にひきかえ — 〜にひきかえ means 'in (marked) contrast to,' pairing two people or things whose situations are strikingly opposite — often with a hint of comparison or mild judgment favoring one side.
- 〜に至るまで — 〜に至るまで attaches to a noun and means 'all the way to / even down to,' stressing that a range is exhaustive: 細部に至るまで ('down to the smallest detail'). Often paired with から for A〜に至るまで.