Japanese word

とかく

Pronunciation

Romajitokaku

Meaning

  • adverbtend to

Example

人はとかく自分に甘くなります。hito wa to ka ku ji bun ni ama ku na ri ma su

People tend to be lenient with themselves.

Illustration for とかく (tend to)

More examples

成功した後でも、とかく小さな問題を軽く見てしまいます。sei kō shi ta ato de mo to ka ku chii sa na mon dai o karu ku mi te shi ma i ma su

Even after succeeding, people tend to underestimate small problems.

Core concept

Indicates a tendency to act or become a certain way, while also suggesting that this can occur in various forms.

Common phrases

  • とかく忘れられがちto ka ku wasu re ra re ga chi

    tend to be forgotten

  • とかく批判されがちto ka ku hi han sa re ga chi

    tend to be criticized

  • とかく複雑になりがちto ka ku fuku zatsu ni na ri ga chi

    tend to become complicated

Similar words

ともすればtomosureba: Indicates that a certain action or result can readily occur, especially in an undesirable situation.
ともするとtomosuruto: Indicates that someone or something is likely to move toward a particular state or behavior.
えてしてeteshite: Indicates that events or behavior tend to follow a particular pattern, often an unfavorable one.

Definition in Japanese

ある状態や行動になりがちなさま。a ru jō tai ya kō dō ni na ri ga chi na sa ma

Word origin

とかく (tokaku) is a native compound of と (to, "so") and かく (kaku, "in this manner"); the spelling 兎角 (tokaku) uses kanji for their sounds.

Usage tips

  • とかく (tokaku) is more common in careful or written speech than in casual conversation, where a simpler expression is often preferred.

Other meanings

  • in various waysadverb

Word lists with this word