affinity
親和性
解説 Definition
人や事柄の間に自然に生まれる理解や親しみの感覚。共通の関心や性質に基づいた心の結びつき。距離を置いても惹かれ合ったり協力したくなるような感情を含む。
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
affinity はまず friend ほど強くはないが、相手や物事に「自然と合う」「相性がいい」と感じる語として覚えると残りやすいです。形容詞 affine / affined ではなく、実際によく見るのは have an affinity for A（Aに親和性・好みがある）や a natural affinity with B（Bと自然に通じ合う）の形。単なる compatibility「機能的な相性」より、感覚的な近さや親しみまで含むのがポイントです。
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.
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう