ためらいがち

ためらいがち
na-adjective
hesitant; hesitantly; with hesitation
descriptive
1. hesitant; halting; done with hesitation
ためらい (hesitation) plus the suffix 〜がち (tending to): describes speech or movement that keeps stopping and starting because the person is unsure. Most often used adverbially as ためらいがちに.
ためらいがちに手(て)を挙(あ)げた。
She raised her hand hesitantly.
彼(かれ)はためらいがちな口調(くちょう)で話(はな)し始(はじ)めた。
He began to speak in a hesitant tone.
ためらいがちに差(さ)し出(だ)された手紙(てがみ)を、黙(だま)って受(う)け取(と)った。
I silently accepted the letter that was held out to me so hesitantly.

Chiefly literary and descriptive; common in novels and narration, less so in everyday speech.

Common patterns

THE 〜がち SUFFIX:
Attaches to a noun or verb stem and means "tending to":

general
Added 2026.8.15 21:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30663_tameraigachi