affinity

affinity — noun

1. a natural feeling that you connect easily with a person, group, or activity beca

1.名詞C1
釋義

a natural feeling that you connect easily with a person, group, or activity because it seems to match your character, interests, or taste.

例句

Nina felt an immediate affinity with the quiet girl reading beside her.

affinity with + person

Even as a child, Leo showed an affinity for maps and train timetables.

affinity for + interest

同義詞
  • liking

    simpler and weaker; it does not suggest any deeper bond

  • sympathy

    focuses more on understanding another person's feelings

  • rapport

    usually refers to an easy relationship built through interaction

  • kinship

    often sounds deeper and closer, with a sense of shared nature

反義詞
  • aversion

    a strong feeling of dislike or avoidance

  • distance

    a lack of emotional closeness or easy connection

文法句型

affinity for something

affinity with someone

用法筆記

Usually followed by 'for' with interests, places, or activities, and by 'with' for people or groups you naturally click with. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about resemblance between things rather than personal liking.

常見錯誤

❌She has an affinity to old jazz records.
✅She has an affinity for old jazz records.
💡use 'for' with things you naturally like.
❌I feel affinity for my brother because he is family.
✅I feel affection for my brother because he is family.
💡'affinity' suggests a natural connection, often through shared character or interests, not simple family love.

2. a clear likeness between two things in the way they are shaped, made, or develop

2.名詞C1
釋義

a clear likeness between two things in the way they are shaped, made, or develop.

例句

Researchers found an affinity between Korean and Japanese in verb order.

affinity between + two things

The blue-and-white plates show an affinity with old Dutch pottery.

affinity with + earlier style

同義詞
  • similarity

    the broad everyday word for things being alike

  • resemblance

    very close in meaning; often used for visible likeness

  • parallel

    suggests that two things develop in comparable ways

  • correspondence

    more formal; often used for matching parts or features

反義詞

文法句型

affinity between A and B

affinity with something

用法筆記

Most often appears with 'between' when both things are named, and with 'with' when one thing is said to resemble an earlier style, system, or work. Distinguish from sense 1, which includes personal attraction or liking.

常見錯誤

❌There is an affinity to these two paintings.
✅There is an affinity between these two paintings.
💡use 'between' when both things being compared are named.
❌I have an affinity between jazz and blues.
✅I see an affinity between jazz and blues.
💡people 'have an affinity for' things they like, but they 'see an affinity between' things that resemble each other.