How to say "affinity" in Japanese

• 相性あいしょうCommon
  nounCovers affinity in the sense of compatibility or chemistry between people, as in two personalities getting along well. This is usually the word you want for 'we have a good affinity' about people.
  お互たがい相性あいしょうがいい。↗

  The chemistry is right for us.
• 引力いんりょくJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounHere affinity means physical attraction, as in magnetic or gravitational pull. Unless you are writing about physics or forces of attraction, this is seldom the word you want for everyday senses of 'affinity'.
  ニュートンは引力いんりょくの法則ほうそくを確立かくりつした。↗

  Newton established the law of gravity.
• 親近感しんきんかんCommon
  nounAffinity as a feeling of closeness or kinship with someone, such as warming to a stranger who shares your background. Use it when 'affinity' describes an emotional sense of connection.
  いやいや、結構けっこう結構けっこう。下したの名前なまえで呼び合よびあうのは親近感しんきんかんがわいてよろしいことだ。↗

  Not at all, that's perfectly fine. Calling each other by one's given name is a good thing; it produces a feeling of fellowship.
• 縁故えんこCommon
  nounAffinity in the sense of relation or connection, typically ties by blood or acquaintance. It is a rather narrow word for human connections and is rarely the right choice for other senses of 'affinity'.

Use 相性 for interpersonal chemistry, 引力 for physical attraction, 親近感 for feeling closeness, and 縁故 for connections by ties such as family; the best choice depends on which sense of 'affinity' you mean.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 相性あいしょうaffinity
• 引力いんりょくattraction (e.g. magnetic, gravitation)
• 親近感しんきんかんaffinity
• 縁故えんこrelation
• ゆかりconnection (to a person, place, etc.)
• 類縁るいえんaffinity
• 親和性しんわせいaffinity
• 親和力しんわりょくaffinity
• アフィニティaffinity
• 由縁ゆえんacquaintance
• 縁えんfamily ties
• 属性ぞくせいelement (of an enemy or attack)