癖

• Reading: くせ
• Romaji: kuse
• Kanji breakdown: 癖 (kuse/heki) — habit, peculiarity, vice
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.se/

Meaning

A habit (often a bad habit); peculiarity. A tendency that is hard to control.

Usually refers to unconscious or undesirable habits, unlike 習慣 (shuukan) which is more neutral. Common patterns include 癖がある (to have a habit) and 癖になる (to become a habit/addictive). Also used for quirks in hair (くせ毛, unruly hair) or writing style.

Examples

1. 爪を噛む癖がなかなか直らない。 I can't seem to break my habit of biting my nails.
2. あの人には話すとき首を傾げる癖がある。 That person has a habit of tilting their head when they talk.
3. この料理は癖になるおいしさだ。 This dish is so good it's addictive.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, personality, conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 癖 combines 疒 (sickness radical) and 辟 (bent/inclined), suggesting a condition or tendency that is difficult to straighten out.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal