Translation guide
The English word 'partiality' can refer to unfair bias or favoritism, or to a fondness or liking for something. This guide covers both meanings, with natural Japanese expressions for each.
Expressing that someone shows unfair preference for one side or person, often in a context where impartiality is expected.
The most common and natural word for favoritism, especially in everyday situations like a teacher favoring a student or a boss favoring an employee. It implies unfair preferential treatment.
Expressing a personal preference or special liking for a particular thing, activity, or person.
The simplest and most common way to express a liking for something. Use with a noun or noun phrase.
私は甘いものが好きです。
I have a partiality for sweets.
えこひいき is specifically about unfair favoritism toward people, often in social or workplace settings. 偏り is broader and can refer to any kind of bias, including statistical bias or skewed perspectives.
Direct translations like '部分性' do not convey the intended meaning and are not used in Japanese. Always choose a word based on the specific nuance of partiality you want to express.
The teacher is showing partiality toward a particular student.
彼は上司にえこひいきされて昇進した。
He got promoted because of favoritism from his boss.
Means bias or leaning toward one side. More neutral and often used in formal or analytical contexts, such as data bias or biased judgment.
この調査結果には偏りがある。
There is partiality in these survey results.
彼の意見には偏りが見られる。
His opinions show partiality.
The kanji form of えこひいき, but rarely used in modern writing. It carries the same meaning but appears mostly in literary or formal contexts.
依怙贔屓のない人事が求められる。
Personnel decisions free from partiality are required.
He has a partiality for classical music.
An idiomatic expression meaning to be extremely fond of something, to the point of having no self-control. Stronger than 好き.
彼女はチョコレートに目がない。
She has a real partiality for chocolate.
Literally 'biased love', used for an intense or exclusive fondness for something, often with a nuance of being overly attached. Somewhat formal or literary.
彼は特定の作家を偏愛している。
He has a partiality for a particular author.