Translation guide
Expresses that something is likely to happen, often with a negative connotation, or that someone has a tendency to do something. Japanese uses various conditional forms, adverbs, and phrases depending on the nuance.
To say that something bad or undesirable is likely to occur.
Attach to the verb stem to mean 'easy to do' or 'likely to happen', often implying an undesirable tendency.
このガラスは割れやすい。
This glass is liable to break.
彼は風邪をひきやすい。
He is liable to catch colds.
Attach to verb stem or noun to indicate a tendency, often negative. Implies something happens frequently or is prone to happen.
この時期は雨が降りがちだ。
It's liable to rain this time of year.
彼は遅刻しがちだ。
He is liable to be late.
Attach to verb stem to mean 'could easily do' or 'there is a risk of'. Stronger negative implication than ～やすい.
そんなことを言うと、彼を怒らせかねない。
Saying that is liable to make him angry.
Formal expression meaning 'there is a risk/danger of'. Used in warnings or official contexts.
大雨で川が氾濫する恐れがある。
The river is liable to flood due to heavy rain.
To describe a person's habitual tendency or inclination, often negative.
Used for negative habits or tendencies. Can attach to nouns or verb stems.
彼女は忘れっぽいから、約束を忘れがちだ。
She's liable to forget appointments because she's forgetful.
Can also describe personal tendencies, especially when the action is involuntary or undesirable.
彼は緊張すると早口になりやすい。
He is liable to speak quickly when nervous.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'has a tendency to', often used critically.
彼は物事を大げさに言うきらいがある。
He is liable to exaggerate things.
To express legal liability or obligation.
Means 'to be responsible' or 'liable' in a legal or moral sense.
会社はこの事故に対して責任がある。
The company is liable for this accident.
Means 'to be obligated' or 'liable' in the sense of duty.
市民は税金を払う義務がある。
Citizens are liable to pay taxes.
Both express tendency, but ～やすい focuses on the ease or likelihood of an event occurring, while ～がちだ emphasizes frequency or habitual tendency, often with a negative nuance. ～がちだ is more subjective and judgmental.
この道は事故が起こりやすい。
Accidents are liable to happen on this road. (inherent danger)
彼は事故を起こしがちだ。
He is liable to cause accidents. (due to his carelessness)
Do not translate 'liable to' directly as a single word. Japanese uses grammatical patterns attached to verbs. Using adjectives like 責任がある only works for legal liability.