“〜tomosureba・tomosuruto”: Tend To, Liable To 〜 [JLPT N1]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

「ともすれば感情的になりがちだ」 — pointing out a (negative) tendency that easily occurs.

“〜tomosureba・tomosuruto”: Tend To, Liable To 〜

「ともすれば/ともすると」 are adverbs meaning “tend to 〜, be liable to 〜, easily slip into 〜 if not careful” — pointing out a tendency (usually negative) that easily occurs. E.g. 「忙しいと、ともすれば健康を後回しにしがちだ」 (when busy, one tends to put health on the back burner), 「ともすると、初心を忘れてしまう」 (one easily forgets one's original intent). It stresses ‘under some condition, one easily develops in a certain (bad) direction.' ⚠️ The latter clause is often paired with 「〜がちだ・〜やすい」 (a tendency to …). ともすれば and ともすると mean the same, interchangeable.

🧠 Core nuance: with a little carelessness, one easily slips that (negative) way

The core is pointing out a (negative) tendency that easily occurs: under some condition, a person/thing easily, all too readily develops in a certain (usually bad) direction (busy → easily neglect health, careless → forget original intent, easily become emotional, easily lazy). It carries a cautionary nuance of ‘with a little slip, one will …,' warning of a tendency to watch out for. ⚠️ The latter clause is often paired with: 〜がちだ (a tendency to …: 怠けがちだ), 〜やすい (easily …: 感情的になりやすい), 〜てしまう. ⚠️ It refers to a ‘tendency,' so the latter clause doesn't take a ‘necessarily, absolutely' result (✗ ともすれば必ず成功する) — 必ず is certainty, contradicting ‘a tendency to.' ともすれば = ともすると, same meaning. A somewhat written N1 adverb.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• 忙しいと、ともすれば健康を後回しにしがちだ。(When busy, one tends to put health on the back burner.) — negative tendency
• 成功すると、ともすると初心を忘れてしまう。(Upon succeeding, one easily forgets one's original intent.) — warning
• 疲れていると、ともすれば感情的になりやすい。(When tired, one is liable to become emotional.) — easy tendency
• 一人で作業していると、ともすると怠けがちになる。(Working alone, one tends to grow lazy.) — tendency
• このテーマは難しく、ともすれば議論が抽象的になりがちだ。(This topic is hard, so the discussion tends to become abstract.) — negative tendency

🔄 Compare: ともすれば vs がちだ vs ややもすると vs 一歩間違えば

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Followed by がちだ/やすい: ともすれば is often followed by 「〜がちだ・〜やすい」 (a tendency to …) — don't omit.
2. No necessary result: ともすれば refers to a tendency; the latter clause doesn't take ‘必ず, 絶対' (✗ ともすれば必ず成功).
3. Usually a negative tendency: ともすれば points out mostly a negative tendency to watch out for (怠ける, 忘れる, becoming emotional).
4. ともすれば = ともすると: same meaning, interchangeable.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

ともすれば・ともすると are adverbs meaning “tend to 〜, be liable to 〜, easily slip into 〜 if not careful,” pointing out a (usually negative) tendency that easily occurs (busy → neglect health, careless → forget original intent). They carry a cautionary nuance, warning of a tendency to watch out for. The latter clause is often paired with 「〜がちだ・〜やすい」. ⚠️ It refers to a tendency, so the latter clause doesn't take a necessary result (✗ 必ず成功). ともすれば = ともすると. A somewhat written N1 adverb, useful for an easily-arising negative tendency. A must at N1.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N1: ともすれば/ともすると = tend to, be liable to (a negative tendency that easily occurs); often with がちだ/やすい.
• Core: refers to a tendency; the latter clause doesn't take a necessary result (✗ 必ず); usually a negative tendency.
• Distinction: ともすれば (a negative tendency that easily occurs) vs がちだ (a tendency to …, paired) vs ややもすると (near-synonym).

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「忙しいと、___健康を後回しにしがちだ。」（往往容易）

(A) ともすれば　(B) かろうじて　(C) いやがおうにも　(D) あえて

Q2. 「ともすれば」とよく一緒に来るのは?

(A) がちだ／やすい　(B) ください　(C) なさい　(D) てはいけない

Q3. 「ともすると初心を忘れる」の意味は?

(A) 稍不注意就會忘了初衷（傾向）

(B) 絕不會忘

(C) 已經忘了

(D) 想忘記

Q4. 「ともすれば」の語感は?

(A) 動不動就／往往容易（常為負面傾向）

(B) 絕對不會

(C) 命令

(D) 感謝

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) ともすると怠けがちだ。　(B) ともすれば必ず成功する(傾向に不適)。

(C) ともすればを食べる。　(D) ともすればだ高い。

答案解析

1. (A) ともすれば ── 往往容易把健康擺後面。

2. (A) ── 常配がちだ/やすい。

3. (A) ── 稍不注意就忘初衷。

4. (A) ── 動不動就/往往容易(負面傾向)。

5. (A) ── 「ともすると怠けがちだ」正確。