affinity
親和性
解説 Definition
二つの人・物・考えが無理なくなじみ、結びつきやすい性質や関係性。感情としての親しみより、共通点や相性のよさが働いて自然に近づく状態を表します。
Affinity means a natural liking for someone or something, or a close connection between things. It is used for personal interests, relationships, and also for technical or scientific similarity. The word often suggests that two things go well together.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
親和性の affinity は、「好き」という気持ちよりも、互いに引き合う構造や性質を読む語です。a natural affinity between A and B なら「AとBの間に自然な相性がある」。科学では chemical affinity のように、物質同士が反応・結合しやすい傾向にも使われます。親近感の意味と根は同じですが、こちらは個人の感情ではなく、二者間に見える結びつきやすさを述べると整理できます。
Think of `affinity` as a natural pull or fit between things. In science, phrases like `chemical affinity` or `affinity for water` are useful memory hooks. That helps you remember it is about how easily things connect, not just about liking something.
例文
There is a natural affinity between the two friends.
その2人の友人の間には自然な親近感がある。
The artist has an affinity for painting landscapes.
その画家は風景画に強い親しみを感じている。
The students with an affinity for mathematics formed a study group.
数学に親しみを感じる学生たちは勉強会を作った。
affinity の類義語・関連語
affinity の語源・成り立ち Etymology
affinity は古フランス語 affinité を経て、ラテン語 affinitas に由来します。語幹は ad-「〜へ」+ finis「境界」で、「境界が接する」が原義です。affine や finish と同じ finis を思うと、親和性が「ぴたりと接する近さ」から来た語だと腑に落ちます。
Affinity comes through Old French from Latin affinitas. It is linked to ad- meaning "to" and finis meaning "boundary" or "limit," with the early idea of things being next to each other or closely connected. That sense of nearness later became the meaning of a natural connection or attraction. Related words include affine and finish, which also come from finis.
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