At a glance
～気味 means "a little ~" or "a slight sign of ~". It describes a mild degree of a state, usually one that is not wanted.
Verb ます-stem + 気味
Noun + 気味
今日はちょっと風邪気味です。 I feel like I'm coming down with a slight cold today.
How to form it
~気味 attaches to a verb's ます-stem or to a noun. The register is neutral, so it works in polite and casual speech.
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb ます-stem | 疲れる → 疲れ気味 | a little tired |
| Verb ます-stem | 太る → 太り気味 | putting on a little weight |
| Noun | 風邪 → 風邪気味 | a slight cold |
| Noun | 緊張 → 緊張気味 | a little nervous |
It then behaves like a noun:
- ～気味だ / ～気味です: 疲れ気味です。
- ～気味の + noun: 風邪気味の人
- ～気味で / ～気味なので: gives a reason.