影響

• Reading: えいきょう
• Romaji: eikyou
• Kanji breakdown: 影 (ei/kage) — shadow, silhouette; 響 (kyou/hibi) — echo, resound
• Pronunciation: /e.i.kʲoː/

Meaning

Influence; effect; impact. The power to change or affect something.

Functions as a noun or する verb (影響する). Very common patterns: 影響を与える (to give influence / to affect), 影響を受ける (to be influenced), and ～に影響がある (to have an effect on). Appears frequently in news, essays, and academic texts.

Examples

1. 天気が農業に大きな影響を与えます。 The weather has a big impact on agriculture.
2. 親の考え方は子どもに影響する。 Parents' way of thinking influences their children.
3. 台風の影響で電車が止まっています。 Trains have stopped due to the effects of the typhoon.

Usage Guide

Context: news, science, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 影 (shadow, silhouette) and 響 (echo, resound). Together they evoke shadows and echoes — things that extend outward from a source and affect the surroundings.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal