Usage and Nuance
The adverb とかく is often used to express a general tendency or a common outcome, usually with a slightly negative or cautionary nuance. It can mean "anyhow," "anyway," or "in any case," but it often implies that something happens frequently or is prone to happen.
Common Contexts
とかく is frequently used when discussing human behavior, habits, or situations where something tends to go wrong or be neglected. It often appears in formal or written Japanese, such as news articles, essays, or speeches.
Collocations and Patterns
- とかく～がち: indicates a tendency to do something, often negative (e.g., とかく忘れがち "tend to forget")
- とかく～しがち: similar to ～がち, showing a frequent tendency
- とかく忙しい: a common phrase meaning "busy anyhow" or "generally busy"
Register and Politeness
とかく is neutral to formal in tone and is rarely used in casual conversation. It fits well in written language or formal speech.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse とかく with とにかく, which also means "anyway" or "in any case." とにかく is more about emphasizing a conclusion or decision, while とかく focuses on tendencies or general situations. Remember to use とかく when talking about common tendencies or frequent outcomes.