JLPT N3 grammar
〜がち vs 〜気味 — Meaning & Examples
がち = a repeated pattern across occasions. 気味 = one current, mild state. 忘れがち (often forgets) vs 疲れ気味 (a bit tired right now).
〜がち — A Repeated Tendency
〜がち = tends to / prone to — describes a pattern that keeps happening, almost always something mildly negative.
Formation: ます-stem + がち (also noun + がち)
彼は遅刻しがちだ。
= He tends to be late. (it happens repeatedly)
最近、天気が曇りがちです。
= Lately the weather has been mostly cloudy. (a recurring pattern over days)
一人暮らしを始めると、食生活が乱れがちになる。
= When you start living alone, your eating habits tend to become irregular.
病気がち, 遠慮がち, 忘れがち are all fixed, extremely common combinations:
病気がちな子供 = a child prone to getting sick
遠慮がちに話す = to speak hesitantly / holding back
がち is about a PATTERN over time — not a one-off, and not a feeling right now. That distinction is exactly what separates it from 気味, next. 📊
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜がち vs 〜気味. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「彼は遅刻しがちだ」 means?
- He was late once
- He will be late tomorrow
- He is never late
- He tends to be late (a repeated pattern)
Show answer
Answer: He tends to be late (a repeated pattern)
〜がち describes a pattern that keeps recurring, almost always mildly negative.
2. What is the key difference between 〜がち and 〜気味?
- がち = a repeated pattern over time; 気味 = one mild state right now
- No difference
- がち is only for weather; 気味 is only for health
- 気味 is more negative than がち
Show answer
Answer: がち = a repeated pattern over time; 気味 = one mild state right now
忘れがち (often forgets, a pattern) vs 疲れ気味 (a bit tired now, a current mild state).
Practise 〜がち vs 〜気味 in the free app
This point is part of the “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: 📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜がち vs 〜気味 mean?
がち = a repeated pattern across occasions. 気味 = one current, mild state. 忘れがち (often forgets) vs 疲れ気味 (a bit tired right now).
Is 〜がち vs 〜気味 on the JLPT N3 test?
〜がち vs 〜気味 is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜がち vs 〜気味?
Open the “📐 Tendency and Proportion — がち・気味・わりに・にしては” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.