be well of
裕福である
解説 Definition
人や家庭が金銭的に余裕のある状態を表す表現です。特に生活に困らず、必要なものを買える程度以上の豊かさについて、be well off の形でよく使われます。
It describes a person or family that has enough money to live comfortably and buy what they need. It usually suggests more than simply having no problems paying bills, but it is a milder expression than saying someone is rich. In everyday English, this meaning is most commonly expressed as be well off.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
well は「良い状態」、off は「ある状態にある」という感覚で、well off は「暮らし向きが良い」と考えると覚えやすいです。rich ほど大金持ちを強く言わず、生活に余裕がある人や家庭を穏やかに表します。標準的な形は of ではなく off なので、健康を願う be well の用法や、珍しい「元気で」の意味とは切り分けて覚えます。
Think of well as "in a good condition," so the phrase gives the image of someone whose life situation is good. It usually means financially comfortable, not necessarily extremely rich. A useful point to remember is that the standard form in modern English is be well off, not be well of.
例文
Their family is be well of enough to live in a large house and travel every summer.
その家族は大きな家に住み、毎年夏に旅行できるほど裕福です。
People in that part of town tend to be well of, though not necessarily extremely rich.
その地域の人々は、ものすごい大金持ちというわけではないが、たいてい裕福です。
She grew up in a be-well-of household and never had to worry about basic expenses.
彼女は暮らし向きの良い家庭で育ち、生活費の心配をしたことがありません。
be well of の類義語・関連語
be well of の語源・成り立ち Etymology
well は古英語 wel「よく、望ましく」から。off は状態・位置を表し、well off は「良い状態に置かれた」から「暮らし向きが良い」へ広がった。
Well comes from Old English wel, meaning "in a good way" or "favorably." Off later helped form the phrase well off, which originally suggested being placed in a good condition and then came to mean being financially comfortable.
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