Understanding ~気味 (~ぎみ): A Streetwise JLPT N2 Grammar Guide

昨日きのうからずっと微熱びねつ気味ぎみで、今日きょうくみあつまりをサボったぜ。
I’ve had a slight fever since yesterday, so I skipped the gang meeting today.

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The real talk about ~気味 (~gimi) is that it ain’t about being fully one thing. It’s like, you kinda got that vibe, you feel me? It means “a little bit,” “somewhat,” or “a touch of.” You use it when somethin’ ain’t a hundred percent but it’s leanin’ that way. It’s for when you see somethin’ on the come up, but it ain’t fully there yet.

Think about it like this: You’re at the spot, tryin’ to lay low, but you feel like the heat’s gettin’ a little too close. You ain’t surrounded by cops yet, but you got that ~気味 vibe that says it’s time to dip. It’s that subtle feelin’, that premonition. It’s the difference between “I’m sick” (病気) and “I’m feelin’ kinda sick” (病気 気味). It’s the difference between “I’m tired” (疲れた) and “I’m feelin’ kinda tired” (疲れ 気味). You ain’t all the way there, but you’re on the way.


Here’s how you hook it up. You gotta get this part right, or you’ll be lookin’ real suspect.

GroupJapaneseHiraganaExampleTranslation
Verb StemV-stem + 気味V-stem + ぎみ疲れ気味A bit tired
NounNoun + 気味Noun + ぎみ不機嫌気味A bit grumpy

You just gotta slap ~気味 right after the verb stem or the noun. That’s it. No tricky business. Just keep it simple and clean. You take off the last ます and put 気味 on there. For nouns, you just drop 気味 right after it. It’s like addin’ a new homie to the crew. The conjugation for ~気味 is as straightforward as a straight-up deal.


Check out these examples. They’re all about that street life, that hustle, and that grind.

あの新入しんいりはちょっとおび気味ぎみで、信用しんようできない。
That new recruit seems a bit scared, I can’t trust him.

最近さいきんくみ資金繰しきんぐりがとどこお気味ぎみだ。
Lately, our crew’s finances have been a bit stagnant.

あの売人ばいにん顔色かおいろつか気味ぎみだった。
That dealer’s face looked a bit tired.

取引とりひき場所ばしょ気味ぎみで、あぶなかったぜ。
The transaction spot was a bit crowded, it was dangerous.

ボスは今日きょう計画けいかく不満ふまん気味ぎみだ。
The boss seems a bit displeased with today’s plan.

今回こんかい仕事しごとはちょっと失敗しっぱい気味ぎみだったな。
This job was a bit of a failure.

あいつは最近さいきんあせ気味ぎみで、ヘマしそうだ。
He’s been a bit anxious lately, he’s probably gonna screw up.

幹部かんぶ会議かいぎはいつも長引ながび気味ぎみだ。
The executive meetings tend to drag on a bit.

あたらしいビジネスパートナーは疑心暗鬼ぎしんあんき気味ぎみだ。
The new business partner is a bit suspicious.

やつらのアジトは気味ぎみで、すぐにバレるだろう。
Their hideout is a bit messy, they’ll be found out quickly.


Stay dangerous.

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