inclination
Meaning: A tendency or preference towards a particular course of action, belief, or way of behaving.
Inclination suggests a leaning or pull towards something, often based on personal preference rather than rational analysis. It is more formal than tendency and less deterministic than predisposition. In physics and geometry, inclination refers to the angle between two lines or surfaces. The phrase natural inclination is a common collocation.
Examples
- His natural inclination was to avoid conflict and seek compromise wherever possible. 他的天性倾向于回避冲突,尽可能寻求妥协。Su inclinación natural era evitar el conflicto y buscar el compromiso siempre que fuera posible.彼の生来の性向は対立を避け、可能な限り妥協を求めることだった。그의 타고난 성향은 갈등을 피하고 가능한 한 타협을 추구하는 것이었다.
- She felt no inclination to apologise, believing she had done nothing wrong. 她丝毫没有道歉的意愿,因为她认为自己没有做错什么。No sentía ninguna inclinación a disculparse, pues creía que no había hecho nada malo.自分は何も悪いことをしていないと信じていたので、彼女は謝る気持ちは全くなかった。자신이 아무 잘못도 하지 않았다고 믿었기에 그녀는 사과할 마음이 전혀 없었다.
- The teacher noticed the student's inclination towards creative writing rather than analytical essays. 老师注意到这个学生更倾向于创意写作,而不是分析性论文。El profesor advirtió la inclinación de la alumna por la escritura creativa frente a los ensayos analíticos.教師は、その生徒が分析的な小論文よりも創作文に対して傾倒していることに気づいた。교사는 그 학생이 분석적 에세이보다 창작 글쓰기에 더 기울어져 있음을 알아챘다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin inclinationem (a leaning, bending), from inclinare (to lean, bend), from in- (towards) and clinare (to bend). Used in English since the 14th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Psychology & Behaviour
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free