GRAMMAR DETAIL
がちだ
Expresses a tendency for an undesirable state or action to occur frequently.
Examples
冬は運動不足になりがちだ。
People tend not to get enough exercise in winter.
Words used
忙しいと、朝食を抜きがちだ。
When I am busy, I tend to skip breakfast.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
がちだto a verb's masu-stem or a noun to describe a tendency for a usually undesirable action or state to recur. - Basic usage:
忙しいと、朝食を抜きがちだ。describes a tendency to skip breakfast when busy.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Verb stems and nouns
休みがちだuses the masu-stem of休む, while留守がちだattaches to the noun留守.
- Repeated tendency versus a slight current condition
遅れがちだdescribes a tendency to be late repeatedly, while遅れ気味だcan describe being somewhat behind. The focus differs between recurrence and degree of a condition.