How to say "inclination" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 傾向けいこうnounFor 'inclination' meaning a general tendency or trend — the way something develops or someone characteristically behaves. It describes an abstract drift, often in data, opinion, or behavior, rather than a single decision or wish.
- 傾斜けいしゃnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbFor 'inclination' as a physical slant: the angle at which a surface, plane, or line tilts away from the horizontal. Typical contexts are geometry, engineering, and the slope of terrain.
- 意向いこうnounFor 'inclination' meaning a person's intention or wish — what someone is minded to do about a matter. Used when asking after, respecting, or deferring to another person's wishes in a decision.
- 傾きかたむきnounFor 'inclination' as the tilt or slope of a physical object: how far it leans, or how a line or surface slopes. It also covers a ship's list, a vessel leaning to one side.
- 偏りかたよりnounFor 'inclination' this is seldom the word you want: it really means bias, deviation, or unevenness — a lopsided skew toward one side, as in data or distributions — not a personal or physical inclination.
Choose 傾向 for a general tendency or trend, 意向 for a person's wishes or intentions, 傾斜 for a physical slant or angle, 「傾き」 for the tilt or slope of an object, and 「偏り」 only for bias or uneven deviation.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
