【JLPT N1 Grammar Point 12】
At the N1 level, you’ll need to describe people’s habits, tendencies, or behaviors, especially when pointing out something undesirable or problematic. The expression ～きらいがある does exactly this.
🌟 ～きらいがある
Meaning:
- Have a tendency to…
- Be prone to…
- Tend to (usually negative)
🔧 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form) / ない form + きらいがある
Noun + の + きらいがある
✅ Example Sentences
1. 彼は人の話を最後まで聞かないきらいがある。
(He tends not to listen to others until the end.)
▶ Points out a negative habit.
2. 最近の若者は自己中心的な考え方をしがちで、責任感に欠けるきらいがある。
(Young people these days tend to be self-centered and lack a sense of responsibility.)
▶ General critique.
3. この会社は決断が遅いきらいがある。
(This company tends to be slow in making decisions.)
▶ Observes a pattern in organizational behavior.
4. 彼女は感情的になるきらいがあるので、注意が必要だ。
(She tends to get emotional, so care is needed.)
▶ Warning about a personality trait.
🧠 Nuance and Usage
- Mostly used in formal writing, reports, or critiques.
- Usually points out negative or undesirable tendencies.
- Not used for neutral or positive traits.
🔄 Similar Expressions
| Grammar | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ～傾向がある | Has a tendency | More neutral, often statistical |
| ～がちだ | Tend to (negative) | Common in speech |
| ～癖がある | Has a habit | More casual, sometimes negative |
✍️ Practice Challenge
Translate into Japanese using ～きらいがある:
- He tends to procrastinate until the last minute.
- That team tends to ignore important advice.
- Some politicians have a tendency to avoid responsibility.
- She tends to be careless when working under pressure.
🧠 (Answers below!)
🏁 Summary
| Grammar Point | ～きらいがある |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Have a (usually negative) tendency or habit |
| Form | Verb (dictionary or negative) / Noun + の + きらいがある |
| Use | Formal, critiques, observations |
| Common Contexts | Reports, essays, evaluations |
✅ Practice Answers
- 彼は締め切りまで先延ばしにするきらいがある。
- そのチームは重要なアドバイスを無視するきらいがある。
- 一部の政治家は責任を回避するきらいがある。
- 彼女はプレッシャーの下で不注意になるきらいがある。
📘 Coming Up Next: ～なり – Expressing immediate sequential actions or intuitive reactions.
