Translation guide
The English word 'affected' has two main uses: describing artificial or pretentious behavior, and describing something that is influenced or impacted. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Describing someone's behavior, speech, or manner as unnatural, exaggerated, or insincere, often to impress others.
The most common and versatile adjective for 'affected' in the sense of pretentious or putting on airs. Can describe speech, manner, style, etc.
彼の気取った話し方が嫌いだ。
I dislike his affected way of speaking.
She puts on an affected attitude.
Emphasizes the artificial, forced, or unnatural quality of an action or expression. Often used for gestures, laughter, or acting.
彼の笑いはわざとらしかった。
His laugh was affected (forced).
わざとらしい親切は逆効果だ。
Affected kindness can backfire.
A more formal or analytical term meaning 'contrived' or 'artificial'. Often used in criticism of art, writing, or behavior.
その映画の結末は作為的すぎる。
The movie's ending is too affected (contrived).
Literally 'wearing a cat on one's head', meaning to feign innocence or friendliness. Describes someone who is affectedly nice or demure, often hiding their true nature.
彼女は上司の前では猫かぶりしている。
She acts all affected (feigns innocence) in front of her boss.
Describing a person, thing, or situation that has been changed or influenced by something else.
The standard way to say 'affected' in the sense of being influenced. Works for people, objects, systems, etc.
彼は友達の意見に影響を受けた。
He was affected by his friend's opinion.
この地域は台風の影響を受けた。
This area was affected by the typhoon.
The verb 'to affect' (influence). Use this when the subject is the influencing factor.
天候が農作物に影響する。
Weather affects crops.
Used in scientific or technical contexts to mean 'act on' or 'affect' in a physical or chemical sense.
この薬は神経に作用する。
This medicine affects the nerves.
Describing a person who is emotionally affected, often in a negative or distressed way.
Literally 'had one's heart moved'. Used when someone is emotionally affected, often by a sad story or touching event.
彼の話に心を動かされた。
I was affected (moved) by his story.
Means 'to become emotional'. Implies being affected to the point of losing composure.
彼女はその知らせを聞いて感情的になった。
She became affected (emotional) upon hearing the news.
気取った focuses on the pretentious attitude or style, while わざとらしい emphasizes the obvious artificiality of an action. 気取った can sometimes be neutral (e.g., a fancy restaurant), but わざとらしい is always negative.
The word 影響 (eikyou) only means 'influence' or 'effect'. It cannot be used to describe affected behavior or mannerisms. Using it in that context would be a mistake.