A touch of 〜気味

Meaning

"A touch of ~", "slightly ~" — a mild sign of a condition, usually an unwelcome one.

Formation

[verb ます-stem] + 気味 · [noun] + 気味

Notes

Read ぎみ when attached. Milder than がち: 風邪気味 is "a touch of a cold", not a full one. Behaves as a na-adjective: 疲れ気味な顔. Almost always negative — ×嬉しい気味 does not work.

Examples

今日（きょう）は風邪気味（かぜぎみ）なので早（はや）く帰（かえ）ります。

I have a touch of a cold today, so I will go home early.

Breakdown

かぜぎみ風邪気味 a touch of a cold はやくかえります早く帰ります will go home early

最近（さいきん）少（すこ）し太り気味（ふとりぎみ）です。

I have put on a bit of weight lately.

Breakdown

すこし少し a little ふとりぎみ太り気味 tending to put on weight

電車（でんしゃ）が遅（おく）れ気味（きみ）です。

The trains are running slightly late.

Breakdown

でんしゃ電車 train おくれぎみ遅れ気味 running a bit late

疲（つか）れ気味（きみ）の顔（かお）をしていますね。

You look a bit tired.

Breakdown

つかれぎみ疲れ気味 somewhat tired かお顔 face

最近（さいきん）、睡眠不足（すいみんぶそく）気味（ぎみ）です。

I have been a little short of sleep lately.

Breakdown

すいみんぶそく睡眠不足 lack of sleep ぎみ気味 a touch of

⚠️ Often confused with

〜っぽい

Somewhat / -ish 〜っぽい

Says something has the quality of ~ — "-ish", "looks like ~", "tends to ~".

〜がち

Tends to (badly) 〜がち

"Tends to ~", "is apt to ~" — nearly always about something unwanted.

〜かのように

As if 〜かのように

"As if ~" — a comparison to something that is not the case.