What does 〜kirai ga aru mean and how do you use it?

A deep look at 「〜きらいがある」 to avoid common mistakes and sharpen your Japanese. This lesson explains the meaning, connection rules, example sentences and common mistakes.

Does this JLPT N1 grammar lesson include practice questions?

Yes. It includes JLPT-style practice questions with detailed English explanations, so you can self-study for JLPT N1 for free.

“〜kirai ga aru”: Have a (Bad) Tendency to 〜 [JLPT N1]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

A deep look at 「〜きらいがある」 to avoid common mistakes and sharpen your Japanese.

“〜kirai ga aru”: Have a (Bad) Tendency to 〜

「〜きらいがある」 expresses ‘have a tendency to 〜 (in a bad direction), be prone to 〜' — specifically a negative, undesirable tendency (a flaw in character, habit, behavior). E.g. 「彼はすぐ人に頼るきらいがある」 (he has a tendency to rely on others at the drop of a hat), 「彼女は自分の意見を通そうとするきらいがある」 (she has a tendency to always push her own opinion). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋きらいがある; noun ＋の＋きらいがある (誇張のきらいがある)! ⚠️ Core point: きらいがある ‘is only for a negative, undesirable tendency' — this is the biggest difference from 「傾向がある (neutral), がちだ (neutral, leaning frequent), やすい (easy to)」! ⚠️ A more written, formal, evaluative expression.

🧠 Core nuance: specifically a negative, undesirable tendency

The core is きらいがある specifically expresses ‘a tendency to develop in a bad direction, a certain undesirable disposition,' with a negative evaluation: ‘verb dict. form ＋きらいがある' points out that someone (or something) has a certain undesirable, unwelcome tendency (often a character flaw, bad habit: 彼は物事を悲観的に考えるきらいがある = he has a tendency to think pessimistically, 最近の若者は活字を読まないきらいがある = young people these days have a tendency not to read, 彼の話は誇張のきらいがある = his speech has a tendency to exaggerate). ⚠️ Core point: きらいがある ‘is only for a negative, undesirable tendency'! It can't be used for neutral or positive things (✗ よく勉強するきらいがある → this is a good thing, can't use it). This is the biggest difference from its near-synonyms. ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form ＋きらいがある (頼るきらいがある); noun ＋の＋きらいがある (誇張のきらいがある); also verb ない-form ＋きらいがある (意見を聞かないきらいがある)! ⚠️ Contrast with near-synonyms (most important): 「きらいがある」 = a negative tendency (evaluative, written); 「傾向がある」 = a neutral tendency (positive or negative, objective); 「がちだ」 = prone to … (neutral, leaning frequent, often mildly negative); 「やすい」 = easy to … (neutral, purely difficulty)! ⚠️ Register: more written, formal, with an evaluative, critical tone. An N1 negative-tendency pattern.

📌 Connection Rules

Part of speech	Connection	Example
verb	dict. form ＋きらいがある	頼るきらいがある
verb	ない-form ＋きらいがある	聞かないきらいがある
noun	＋の＋きらいがある	誇張のきらいがある
restriction	only for a negative tendency	✗ positive/neutral

💬 Example Sentences

彼はすぐに人に頼るきらいがある。(He has a tendency to rely on others at the drop of a hat.) — negative tendency
彼女はいつも自分の意見を通すきらいがある。(She has a tendency to always push her own opinion.) — negative
そのプロジェクトは遅延するきらいがある。(That project has a tendency to be delayed.) — negative
彼は物事を悲観的に考えるきらいがある。(He has a tendency to think pessimistically.) — negative
彼の話は誇張のきらいがある。(His speech has a tendency to exaggerate.) — noun の＋きらいがある

🔄 Compare: きらいがある vs 傾向がある vs がちだ vs やすい

Expression	Nuance	Example
〜きらいがある	a negative tendency (evaluative, written)	頼るきらいがある
〜傾向がある	a neutral tendency (positive or negative)	増える傾向がある
〜がちだ	prone to … (neutral, leaning frequent, often mildly negative)	忘れがちだ
〜やすい	easy to … (neutral, difficulty)	割れやすい

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Only for a negative tendency: きらいがある is specifically for an undesirable tendency; it can't be used for neutral/positive (✗ よく勉強するきらいがある)!
Distinguish from 傾向がある: きらいがある = negative (evaluative); 傾向がある = neutral (positive or negative).
Connection: verb dict. form/ない-form ＋きらいがある; noun ＋の＋きらいがある (誇張のきらいがある).
Written, evaluative: きらいがある is more written, formal, with a critical tone.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「〜きらいがある」 is specifically for a ‘negative, undesirable tendency' (with an evaluative, critical tone: 頼るきらいがある, 誇張のきらいがある); it can't be used for neutral or positive things. ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form/ない-form ＋きらいがある, noun ＋の＋きらいがある. Contrast with 傾向がある (neutral), がちだ (neutral, leaning frequent), やすい (difficulty) — only きらいがある is restricted to the negative. An N1 negative-tendency pattern — memorize it.