credulous
信じやすい
解説 Definition
他人の言うことを疑わずにすぐ信じてしまう、騙されやすい性格のこと。
If someone is credulous, they are too ready to believe what others say. This usually suggests a lack of doubt or careful thinking, especially when the information may be false.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
credulous は credit や credible を知っていると、「cred- が出たら信じる感覚」とまとめて覚えやすいです。ただし credible が「信じるに値する」、credulous は「相手をすぐ信じてしまう」で向きが逆。a credulous customer, credulous voters のように、人が話・宣伝・約束をうのみにする場面で出やすく、少し批判的で「だまされやすい」響きがあります。incredulous は正反対の「信じられず疑う」なのでセットで区別すると残ります。
Use the root "cred-" as your clue for believing, as in "credit" or "credible." But be careful: "credible" describes something worth believing, while "credulous" describes a person who believes too easily. It helps to learn it with its opposite, "incredulous," for someone who does not believe easily.
例文
The credulous investors fell for the scammer's promises of guaranteed returns.
信じやすい投資家たちは、詐欺師の確実なリターンという約束に騙された。
He was so credulous that he believed every rumor he heard at the office.
彼は非常に信じやすく、職場で聞いたすべての噂を信じた。
A credulous audience is exactly what a skilled con artist looks for.
信じやすい聴衆こそ、熟練した詐欺師が求めるものだ。
credulous の類義語・関連語
credulous の語源・成り立ち Etymology
credulousはラテン語credere「信じる」からできたcredulusに由来し、語幹cred-が「信頼」を担います。creditやcreedも同根で、証拠より先に相手を信じてしまう感じが「信じやすい」にそのままつながります。
From Latin credulus, from credere, meaning "to believe" or "trust." The root cred- appears in several English words connected with belief and trust. The meaning developed toward being too ready to believe. Related words include credit and creed.
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