affinity

/əˈfɪnəti/ (bre, ipa) · [əfˈɪnəti] /əˈfɪnəti/ (ame, ipa) · [əfˈɪnəti] /ə-ˈfi-nə-tē/ (ame, mw)

affinity — noun

  • affinitysingular
  • affinitiesplural

1. A natural feeling of warmth and connection toward a person or thing, often becau

1.名詞B2
釋義

A natural feeling of warmth and connection toward a person or thing, often because you share similar tastes, values, or background.

例句

Lien felt a natural affinity for the old bookshop and its dusty poetry shelves.

affinity for + [something]: a natural liking for a place or thing

Rania discovered an affinity with her new colleague — they both loved old jazz records.

affinity with + [someone]: a connection between people who share interests

同義詞
  • rapport

    suggests smooth communication and understanding developed through interaction, rather than an instinctive pull

  • kinship

    implies a deeper, almost family-like bond; more literary in tone

  • connection

    a broader term covering any emotional or logical link, not necessarily positive or rooted in shared traits

  • attraction

    focuses on the pull itself rather than the shared ground behind it

反義詞
  • aversion

    a strong dislike; the opposite of the natural pull toward someone or something

  • antipathy

    a deep-seated hostility or dislike, more formal than aversion

文法句型

have/feel an affinity for/with + noun

用法筆記

Preposition choice matters: 'affinity for' is typical with objects and activities, while 'affinity with' is more common for people. Frequently paired with 'feel', 'have', or 'share'.

常見錯誤

❌She has a good affinity with her boss.
✅She feels a natural affinity with her boss.
💡'affinity' already implies a positive connection; adding 'good' is redundant.
❌I have affinity for classical music.
✅I have an affinity for classical music.
💡'affinity' is a countable noun in this sense; it needs an article.

2. A close likeness between two things, especially in their underlying structure, q

2.名詞C1
釋義

A close likeness between two things, especially in their underlying structure, qualities, or character.

例句

Debussy's music has a striking affinity with Monet's paintings from the same period.

affinity with + [artwork]: similarity between works in different art forms

Vivek noticed an affinity between the two buildings — both had the same curved roofline.

同義詞
  • resemblance

    more everyday; can be superficial or deep, while affinity often suggests something structural

  • similarity

    the most neutral and widely used alternative across all registers

  • correspondence

    suggests a matching or parallel relationship between two systems; more formal

  • likeness

    often implies visual or surface similarity rather than deeper structural parallels

反義詞
  • dissimilarity

    the straightforward opposite; a lack of shared qualities or features

  • disparity

    emphasises inequality or a gap in degree, quality, or character

文法句型

affinity between + plural noun phrase

affinity with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Distinguished from Sense 1 (NATURAL LIKING) by its focus on objective resemblance rather than subjective liking. The subject is typically an inanimate thing — a work, a structure, a system — not a person's feelings. Common in academic writing about art, literature, and science.

常見錯誤

❌The affinity of my idea to yours is obvious.
✅The affinity between my idea and yours is obvious.
💡'affinity between' is the standard pattern for comparing two things; 'affinity of...to' is non-standard.