「どっちかというと」: The Master Trick for Saying "Leaning Towards"

Have you lived in Japan long enough to notice that the Japanese seem to never answer with a straightforward "Yes" or "No," "Like" or "Hate"? When faced with a choice, instead of decisively picking one side, they have a very effective "weapon" to soften their answer: 「どっちかというと」 (Docchi ka to iu to).

This is one of my favorite phrases because it perfectly encapsulates the subtlety and the mindset of not wanting to make everything absolute, which is very Japanese. Let's break it down! 😉

---

🤔 What does「どっちかというと」mean?

It means "If I have to choose one...", "I'd rather...", or "To be more precise...".

This phrase is the perfect "lifesaver" when:

• You have a preference, but it's not 100%.
• You want to give your opinion but don't want to seem too assertive or imposing.
• The truth lies in the "gray" area between two choices.

🛠️ Super Practical Usage

It's extremely easy to use! You just put it at the beginning of the sentence before stating your choice or opinion.

1. When expressing a preference (not absolute)

Instead of bluntly saying 犬が好き (I like dogs), the answer becomes much more natural and "Japanese."

🗣️ A: 犬と猫、どっちが好き？ (Inu to neko, docchi ga suki? - Do you like dogs or cats?) 🗣️ B: うーん、どっちかというと猫かなぁ。🐈 (Uhm, docchi ka to iu to neko ka naa. - Hmm, if I had to choose, I'd lean more towards cats.)

✅ Effectiveness: This way of speaking shows you don't hate dogs, you just like cats a little more. It's much more subtle!

2. When giving an opinion about someone

When a person doesn't entirely fit into one category.

🗣️ A: 鈴木さんって、真面目な人だよね。(Suzuki-san tte, majime na hito da yo ne. - Mr. Suzuki is a serious person, isn't he?) 🗣️ B: 真面目…かな？どっちかというと、面白い人だと思うよ。😂 (Majime... kana? Docchi ka to iu to, omoshiroi hito da to omou yo. - Serious? I'd say he's more of a funny person, actually.)

✅ Effectiveness: You're not completely denying A's opinion, just offering another perspective, a more prominent characteristic in your opinion.

3. When describing yourself

🗣️ A: 辛いの好き？(Karai no suki? - Do you like spicy food?) 🗣️ B: そうですね、どっちかというと好きな方です🌶️。(Sou desu ne, docchi ka to iu to suki na hou desu. - Well, you could say I'm the type who likes spicy food.)

✅ Effectiveness: The answer shows that you can eat and quite like spicy food, but maybe you can't handle every spicy dish. It's more modest and honest than saying a blunt はい、好きです！.

---

✨ Why is it so "Japanese"?

In Japanese culture, making strong, absolute statements can sometimes be seen as lacking modesty or a bit childish. 「どっちかというと」 expresses a maturity in thinking: you recognize that life isn't always black and white.

It's the perfect tool to maintain harmony, respect other possibilities, and make the conversation softer and more pleasant.

The next time someone asks you a choice question, try using 「どっちかというと」. You'll find yourself speaking as naturally and subtly as a native right away! 👍