JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜がち”, “〜気味” and “〜っぽい”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “がち“, “気味ぎみ” and “っぽい“
2. がち
3. 気味ぎみ
4. っぽい
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment

Q: Can “〜がち,” “〜気味ぎみ,” and “〜っぽい” be used interchangeably?

A: “〜がち,” “〜気味ぎみ,” and “〜っぽい” each have distinct nuances, so they cannot be completely interchangeable.
However, in some situations, they can be used with similar meanings. Let’s look at each one.

がち (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
① The frequent occurrence of specific undesirable actions or states
② The tendency to frequently develop a particular undesirable condition or trend
③ An outcome that always results in the same state, even if not intended

[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form＋がち
[N] Noun＋がち
*When used with a noun, it functions similarly to な adjectives.

[Commonly Used Words]
Verbs：忘わすれる(to forget)・なまける(to be lazy)・えんりょする(to be reserved)・遅おくれる(to be late)・やる(to do)・なる(to become)・～てしまう(to end up)・サボる(to skip)・風邪かぜをひく(to catch a cold)・思おもう(to think)・勘違かんちがいする(to misunderstand)
名詞めいし：休やすみ(vacation)・病気びょうき(illness)
Nouns：休み (vacation), 病気 (illness)

[Examples]
病気びょうきがちな妹いもうとはよく病院びょういんへ行いきます。（①）
My sister, who is prone to getting sick, often goes to the hospital.

この線せんの電車でんしゃはいつも遅おくれがちです。（②）
This train line is always prone to delays.

最近さいきんの人ひと達たちはどこでもスマホを見みがちです。（③）
Recently, people tend to look at their smartphones everywhere.

気味ぎみ (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
① Feeling like your physical condition or mood resembles a certain symptom or bad state
② A condition or state that feels like a problem, but the degree is not very strong

[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form＋気味ぎみ
[N] Noun＋気味ぎみ
*When used with a noun, it functions similarly to な adjectives.

[Commonly Used Words]
Verbs：太ふとる(to gain weight)・やせる(to lose weight)・緊張きんちょうする(to feel nervous)・疲つかれる(to get tired)・遅おくれる(to be late)・サボる(to skip)
Nouns：風邪かぜ(cold)

[Examples]
最近さいきん、太ふとり気味ぎみかも。ダイエットしよう。（①）
Recently, I might be gaining weight a bit. I should start a diet.

山田やまだ君くんは学校がっこうをサボり気味ぎみのようで、最近さいきんあまり見みません。（①）
It seems that Yamada-kun has been skipping school a bit, so I haven’t seen him much lately.

A「ちょっと風邪かぜ気味ぎみなんだよね」（②）
B「え、大丈夫だいじょうぶ？病院びょういんでみてもらったら？」
A: “I’m feeling a bit like I’m coming down with a cold.”
B: “Oh, are you okay? Maybe you should see a doctor.”

っぽい (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
① A strong tendency in a person’s character or traits that is undesirable
② The way something feels or looks; being similar to something

[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form＋っぽい
[A] いAdjectibeい＋っぽい
[N] Noun＋っぽい

[Commonly Used Words]
動詞どうし：忘わすれる(to forget)・飽あきる(to get bored)・怒おこる(to get angry)　
い形容けいよう詞し：安やすい(cheap)・荒あらい(rough)・勘違かんちがい(mistaken)
名詞めいし：色いろの名前なまえ(colors)・男おとこ(man)・女おんな(woman)・子供こども(child)・大人おとな(adult)・油あぶら(oil)・水みず(water)・うそ(lie)

[Examples]
その服ふく、ちょっと子供こどもっぽいよ。（①）
That outfit looks a bit childish.

そんな安やすっぽいかばん、使つかわないほうがいいよ。（①）
You’d better not use that cheap-looking bag.

最近さいきんは忘わすれっぽくて、彼女かのじょとのデートすら忘わすれて寝ねていました。（②）
Lately, I’ve been so forgetful that I even forgot about a date with my girlfriend and went to bed.

Let’s Compare

These three expressions are commonly used to describe “undesirable” situations.”〜がち” indicates an undesirable state or tendency.”〜気味ぎみ” describes an undesirable tendency or physical condition.”〜っぽい” represents an undesirable quality or characteristic.

[Examples]　
病気びょうきがち（よく病気びょうきになるという状態じょうたいや傾向けいこう）　
Prone to getting sick (a state or tendency of often getting sick)

風邪かぜ気味ぎみ（少すこし風邪かぜのように感かんじられる体からだの状態じょうたい）
Slightly under the weather (a state where one feels a bit like they have a cold)

油あぶらっぽい（油あぶらの性質せいしつのように思おもう／見みえる）
Oily (having a quality or appearance that is similar to oil)

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[がち VS 気味ぎみ VS っぽい①]

These three expressions each have somewhat limited usage in comparisons. For example, while you can say “赤あかっぽい” (reddish), you wouldn’t say “赤あか気味ぎみ” or “赤あかがち.” It’s easier to remember these expressions by using the “commonly used words” as references for fixed phrases.

[Examples]
警察けいさつ「逃にげた車くるまはどんな車くるまでしたか。」
女おんなの人ひと「んー、暗くらかったのであまりよく見みえませんでしたが、赤あかっぽい車くるまでした。」
Police: “What kind of car was the one that fled?”
Woman: “Hmm, it was dark, so I don’t remember very well, but it was a car that looked somewhat red.”
⇒ Here, “赤あかっぽい” is used to indicate that the car appeared somewhat red without definitively stating it was red.

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[がち VS 気味ぎみ VS っぽい②]

Even if you learn it as a phrase, you might wonder what the difference is between “風邪かぜ“, “風邪かぜ気味ぎみ“, and “風邪かぜっぽい”. Let’s compare these terms using “風邪かぜ” to understand the differences.

Although you can often substitute one for the other, there are subtle differences in meaning, so be careful.

[Examples]
×風邪かぜがち→〇風邪かぜをひきがち
子供こどものころから冬ふゆになるとすぐに風邪かぜをひきがちです。
Since I was a child, I’ve often caught a cold as soon as winter comes.
⇒ “風邪かぜ” itself cannot directly connect with “がち,” so “ひく” (to catch) is used to describe a person’s tendency.
　　　　　
〇風邪かぜ気味ぎみ
ちょっと風邪かぜ気味ぎみかもな。
I might be coming down with a bit of a cold.
⇒ Although the cold isn’t severe, this is a vague way of saying “I have symptoms somewhat resembling a cold.”

〇風邪かぜっぽい
熱ねつもあるし風邪かぜっぽいな。
I have a fever and I feel like I have a cold.
⇒ This expression indicates “I have symptoms similar to a cold” and is a bit more definite than “気味ぎみ.”

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[がちVSっぽい]

These two phrases are often used in similar contexts. Let’s compare the differences using “忘わすれる” (to forget).

[Examples]　
最近さいきん、物ものを忘わすれがちです。
Lately, I tend to forget things often.
⇒ This expression focuses on a specific situation where “忘わすれる” happens frequently.

最近さいきん、忘わすれっぽいんだよね。
Recently, I’ve been quite forgetful.
⇒ This expression focuses on a personality trait, indicating that the person is generally prone to forgetting things.

Summary

[がち]

• Frequently experiencing a certain negative state or trend.
• Resulting in the same negative state, even if it was not intended.
• Commonly encountering specific negative behaviors or states.

[気味ぎみ]

• Feeling a negative state, even if it is not very strong.
• Experiencing a negative state in terms of physical condition or mood that resembles a certain symptom.

[っぽい]

• Feeling or appearing similar to something.
• A strong negative tendency in a person’s character or traits.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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