癖(くせ)

くせ
noun
habit, quirk
1. habit, quirk, peculiarity
A behavioral tendency, often unconscious; can refer to good or bad habits, but frequently implies a bad or unusual habit.
悪(わる)い癖(くせ)を直(なお)したい。
I want to fix my bad habit.
癖を直す = to fix a habit
爪(つめ)を噛(か)む癖(くせ)がある。
I have a habit of biting my nails.
〜癖がある = to have a habit of ~
彼(かれ)の口癖(くちぐせ)は「まあ」だ。
His favorite phrase is 'well...'
口癖 = verbal habit, pet phrase
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)からの癖(くせ)で、考(かんが)える時(とき)に頭(あたま)をかく。
It's a habit from childhood — I scratch my head when I think.
一度(いちど)癖(くせ)になると、なかなか直(なお)らないものだ。
Once something becomes a habit, it's quite hard to break.
癖になる = to become a habit
2. curl, wave (in hair)
Natural wave or curl in hair.
髪(かみ)に癖(くせ)がある。
My hair has a natural wave.
癖(くせ)のある髪(かみ)をまっすぐにしたい。
I want to straighten my curly hair.
癖のある髪 = wavy/curly hair
雨(あめ)の日(ひ)は髪(かみ)の癖(くせ)が強(つよ)くなる。
On rainy days, the curl in my hair gets stronger.
癖が強い = strong curl/wave
母(はは)も同(おな)じように髪(かみ)に癖(くせ)があるので、遺伝(いでん)だと思(おも)う。
My mother has the same wavy hair, so I think it's genetic.
癖(くせ)の強(つよ)い髪(かみ)だが、最近(さいきん)はそのままにしている。
My hair has strong curls, but lately I've been leaving it as it is.

USAGE: 癖(くせ) often has a negative connotation, referring to bad habits or peculiar behaviors. However, it can also be neutral.

COMMON PATTERNS:

GRAMMAR:

  • 〜癖(くせ)に (despite ~, even though ~) - a conjunctive use expressing criticism

CONTRAST:

  • 癖(くせ) - habit (often negative or quirky)
  • 習慣(しゅうかん) - habit, custom (neutral, established routine)

Related Words

Contrast: 習慣(しゅうかん) (habit, custom (neutral))
core
Added 2026.1.12 22:34 · Revised 2026.5.28 3:40
03500/03814_kuse