影響を与える
influence
Literally: influence (noun) + object marker + to give/bestow (verb)
Use this to describe how people, events, or environments cause a change in someone or something else.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe one thing impacting or changing another thing.
- Requires the particle 'ni' for the person or thing being influenced.
- Works for both positive inspirations and negative consequences.
Meaning
To have an impact or influence on someone or something. It describes how one thing's actions or existence causes a change in another.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about a morning coffee habit
カフェインは私の睡眠に影響を与えます。
Caffeine influences my sleep.
Discussing a favorite childhood movie
その映画は私の人生に大きな影響を与えました。
That movie had a big influence on my life.
A business report on market trends
円安が輸出企業に影響を与えている。
The weak yen is influencing export companies.
Cultural Background
The phrase highlights the Japanese concept of 'en' (connection/fate). It suggests that nothing exists in isolation and that our environment and relationships constantly shape us. It became increasingly common in modern Japanese as a translation for Western sociological concepts.
The 'Ni' Rule
Always remember that the person or thing getting changed is marked with `に`. If you use `を`, it sounds like you are physically handing a box labeled 'influence' to them!
Don't get physical
Avoid using this for direct physical actions. If you push a button, it's `osu`. Save `影響を与える` for the 'invisible' ripples of change.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe one thing impacting or changing another thing.
- Requires the particle 'ni' for the person or thing being influenced.
- Works for both positive inspirations and negative consequences.
What It Means
Imagine a pebble falling into a quiet pond. The ripples spread out and touch the shore. That is exactly what 影響を与える feels like. It means one thing causes a change in another. It is not just about a physical push. It is about a lasting or meaningful impact. Think of it as 'giving' an effect to something. It describes how people, events, or things interact. It is a very common and useful phrase for describing connections.
How To Use It
The grammar follows a very specific pattern. You use the particle ni for the target of the influence. The thing doing the influencing uses ga or wa. So, the pattern is: A ga B ni eikyou o ataeru. This literally means 'A gives influence to B'. You can use it with nouns of all kinds. For example, 'The weather influences my mood'. In Japanese: tenki ga kibun ni eikyou o ataeru. It is a 'suru' verb construction at its heart. You can change it to ataemashita for the past tense. Or use ataete-iru for an ongoing effect. It is very flexible for different sentence endings.
When To Use It
Use this when talking about your role models. Maybe a teacher changed how you think. Use it when discussing how movies affect society. It is perfect for professional settings too. In a meeting, talk about how prices affect sales. You can use it for health and lifestyle discussions. 'Lack of sleep influences your work performance.' It works for both positive and negative impacts. If a friend's bad habit rubs off on you, use it. If a hero inspires you to work hard, use it. It is a very versatile tool for your vocabulary.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for direct physical force. If you hit a ball with a bat, don't use this. Use utsu or ateru for physical contact. 影響を与える is for abstract or indirect results. Don't use it for very tiny, instant actions. Turning a key to start a car isn't 'influencing' it. That is just 'starting' the car (kakeru). Also, avoid it if the change is purely visual and shallow. If you paint a wall red, you 'changed' the color. You didn't necessarily 'influence' the wall itself in a deep way.
Cultural Background
Japanese culture places high value on social harmony. This is often called wa in Japanese. Because of this, people are very aware of others. They think about how their actions affect the group. 影響を与える reflects this deep interconnectedness. It is a staple in Japanese news and documentaries. It highlights how global events touch local lives. In schools, kids learn how historical figures influenced Japan. It is a word that connects the past to today. It shows that nothing happens in a vacuum in Japanese society.
Common Variations
The most important variation is 影響を受ける. This means 'to receive influence' or 'be influenced'. If a book influences you, you eikyou o ukeru. You can also add adjectives to be specific. yoi eikyou means a 'good influence'. akueikyou is a single word for 'bad influence'. Sometimes people just say eikyou suru. This is a shorter, more direct way to say it. However, 影響を与える sounds much more natural and complete. It emphasizes the 'giving' aspect of the action.
Usage Notes
This phrase is highly versatile and sits comfortably in both casual and formal Japanese. Just remember that 'ataeru' (to give) implies an active source, while 'ukeru' (to receive) is used when you are the one being changed.
The 'Ni' Rule
Always remember that the person or thing getting changed is marked with `に`. If you use `を`, it sounds like you are physically handing a box labeled 'influence' to them!
Don't get physical
Avoid using this for direct physical actions. If you push a button, it's `osu`. Save `影響を与える` for the 'invisible' ripples of change.
The 'Influencer' Connection
The English word 'Influencer' is used in Japan as `インフルエンサー`. While they do `影響を与える`, the katakana word is much more common for social media stars.
Examples
6カフェインは私の睡眠に影響を与えます。
Caffeine influences my sleep.
A common way to talk about health or daily habits.
その映画は私の人生に大きな影響を与えました。
That movie had a big influence on my life.
Using 'ookina' (big) adds emphasis to the impact.
円安が輸出企業に影響を与えている。
The weak yen is influencing export companies.
Very standard phrasing for news or business reports.
君のファッション、みんなに影響を与えてるよ！
Your fashion is influencing everyone!
A compliment suggesting the friend is a trendsetter.
隣の騒音が私の仕事に影響を与えて困っています。
The noise next door is affecting my work, and it's a problem.
Used here to express a negative impact.
猫の機嫌が家族全員の夕食に影響を与えるんだ。
The cat's mood influences the whole family's dinner.
A humorous way to show how the cat 'rules' the house.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct particle to indicate who is being influenced.
先生は学生___影響を与えた。
The target of the influence always takes the particle 'ni' in this collocation.
Complete the phrase to say 'received influence' (was influenced).
私は彼から大きな影響を___。
'Eikyou o ukeru' is the passive counterpart, meaning to be influenced by someone.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of '影響を与える'
Used with friends when talking about trends or habits.
これ、影響与えるよね。
Standard way to describe impacts in daily conversation.
天気が気分に影響を与えます。
Used in news, business, and academic writing.
経済政策が市場に影響を与える。
When to use 影響を与える
Role Models
A teacher inspiring a student.
Environment
Weather affecting your mood.
Economy
Price changes affecting sales.
Health
Diet affecting energy levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsEikyou o ataeru is more common and sounds more natural in most contexts. Eikyou suru is a bit more direct and is often used in scientific or technical writing.
Yes! You can say akueikyou o ataeru (to have a bad influence) or simply use it for negative contexts like sumogu ga kenkou ni eikyou o ataeru (smog influences health).
Yes, it is a neutral-to-formal phrase. In a very formal setting, you might use the humble or polite forms of the verb ataeru, but the phrase itself is perfectly safe.
You should use the phrase eikyou o ukeru. For example: Watashi wa anime ni eikyou o uketa (I was influenced by anime).
The person or thing doing the influencing usually takes ga or wa. For example: Kare ga (influencer) watashi ni (target) eikyou o ataeta.
Absolutely. It's very common to say tenki ga ningen no koudou ni eikyou o ataeru (weather influences human behavior).
You can add daidaina or ookina before eikyou. Ookina eikyou o ataeru is the most common way to say 'have a huge impact'.
Yes, if you're talking about how food affects your health or energy. Shokuji wa karada ni eikyou o ataeru (Diet influences the body).
Very often! Historians use it to describe how one country's culture influenced another, like Chuugoku no bunka ga Nihon ni eikyou o ataeta.
The most common mistake is using the particle o for the target. Remember: Target ni eikyou o ataeru.
Related Phrases
影響を受ける
To be influenced by
作用する
To act upon / to have an effect (more scientific)
刺激を与える
To provide a stimulus / to inspire
感化される
To be inspired or influenced by someone's character
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