気味
gimi
-like; -looking; -looked; tending to
気味 attaches to nouns and ます-stems to describe a slight tendency or appearance of something, often with a negative nuance.
How to form it
Attach 気味 to a noun or the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., 疲れ気味, 太り気味). For nouns, it directly follows the noun (e.g., 風邪気味).
What it means
気味 is used to say that someone or something has a slight tendency or shows signs of a state, often one that is not desirable. It is similar to saying "a bit" or "-ish" in English. For example, if you are a little tired, you can say 疲れ気味. It is commonly used with health conditions (like 風邪気味, meaning "a bit like having a cold") and with trends (like 太り気味, meaning "tending to gain weight"). The nuance is that the state is not fully developed but is noticeable.
You can also use it with verbs by taking the ます-stem (the form used before ます, like 疲れ from 疲れます). So, 忘れ気味 means "rather forgetful" or "tending to forget." This pattern is useful in everyday conversation, especially when describing your own condition or making a mild complaint.
Example sentences
最近、疲れ気味で、早く寝るようにしている。
Saikin, tsukaregimi de, hayaku neru you ni shite iru.
Lately I've been feeling a bit tired, so I'm trying to go to bed early.
ちょっと風邪気味なので、今日は早く帰ります。
Chotto kazegimi na node, kyou wa hayaku kaerimasu.
I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, so I'll go home early today.
彼は最近、忘れ気味で、約束を忘れることが多い。
Kare wa saikin, wasuregimi de, yakusoku o wasureru koto ga ooi.
He's been rather forgetful lately and often forgets appointments.
Don’t confuse it with
っぽい
っぽい is more casual and can mean "-ish" or "-like" with a stronger impression, while 気味 is more neutral and focuses on a slight tendency, often with a negative nuance. Also, 気味 attaches to nouns and ます-stems, while っぽい attaches to nouns, い-adjective stems, and な-adjective stems.
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気味 is used in both speaking and writing, but it is slightly formal; in casual conversation, you might hear っぽい instead.
Next in the N3 path
36Questions
What does 気味 mean?
-like; -looking; -looked; tending to. 気味 attaches to nouns and ます-stems to describe a slight tendency or appearance of something, often with a negative nuance.
How do you form 気味?
Attach 気味 to a noun or the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., 疲れ気味, 太り気味). For nouns, it directly follows the noun (e.g., 風邪気味).
Example of 気味 in a sentence
最近、疲れ気味で、早く寝るようにしている。 — Lately I've been feeling a bit tired, so I'm trying to go to bed early.
っぽい — what is the difference?
っぽい is more casual and can mean "-ish" or "-like" with a stronger impression, while 気味 is more neutral and focuses on a slight tendency, often with a negative nuance. Also, 気味 attaches to nouns and ます-stems, while っぽい attaches to nouns, い-adjective stems, and な-adjective stems.
What JLPT level is 気味?
JLPT N3 (intermediate), number 35 of 182 in Nihoner's learning order for N3.
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