〜きらいがある (tendency — negative characteristic)
N1 grammar pattern 〜きらいがある: expressing a negative tendency or inclination — 'has a tendency to' when the tendency is considered a fault or problem.
〜きらいがある
Formality Level: Semi-formal — formal commentary, essay writing, analytical language
Classical Origin: きらい (kirai) in this grammatical context does not mean "dislike" (嫌い) but rather derives from an older noun meaning "tendency" or "inclination" (as in 気らい, a reading of 気). The expression 〜きらいがある means "there is a tendency of that kind" — and this tendency is always negative or problematic in some way.
Structure
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| V-dict + きらいがある | 急ぎすぎるきらいがある |
| い-Adj + きらいがある | 感情的になりやすいきらいがある |
| な-Adj + な + きらいがある | 過激なきらいがある |
Meaning
"Has a tendency to X / Is inclined to X" — where X is a negative or problematic tendency.
Always negative evaluation of a characteristic. The speaker identifies a consistent pattern of behaviour or quality that is a fault, weakness, or problem.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 彼は物事を悲観的に考えるきらいがある。 | He has a tendency to think about things pessimistically. |
| あの政治家は結論を急ぎすぎるきらいがある。 | That politician has a tendency to rush to conclusions. |
| 日本のメディアは報道が画一的になるきらいがあると批判される。 | The Japanese media is criticised for having a tendency toward uniformity in reporting. |
| 最近の若者は精神的に脆いきらいがあるという意見も聞かれる。 | There are opinions that recent young people have a tendency to be mentally fragile. |
| この作家は文章が冗長になるきらいがあるが、描写力は卓越している。 | This author has a tendency toward verbose writing, but their descriptive power is outstanding. |
| 彼女は人の話を最後まで聞かないきらいがある。 | She has a tendency not to listen to others until the end. |
Comparison with Related Patterns
| Pattern | Register | Meaning | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜きらいがある | Semi-formal | Negative tendency (fault/problem) | Always negative evaluation; characteristic tendency |
| 〜傾向がある | Semi-formal | Tendency (neutral) | Can be neutral or positive; more analytical |
| 〜がちだ | All registers | Tending to / prone to | Can be neutral; often physical or situational |
| 〜やすい | All registers | Easy to / prone to | Can be positive or neutral; not evaluative |
When NOT to Use
- Do not use for positive tendencies: ×彼は勤勉なきらいがある (Wrong — きらいがある is for negative tendencies only. Use 〜傾向がある or 〜ところがある for positive characteristics.)
- Do not confuse with 嫌いがある (dislike-based): While 嫌い (kirai) meaning "dislike" exists, 〜きらいがある is a grammatical pattern with different meaning. They look similar in kana but differ in usage.
- Tone: The speaker's tone with 〜きらいがある is mildly critical but analytical — not harshly judgmental. It is an observation about a fault, not an attack.