單字講座 89：effect (n) / affect (v)

波音糗了！今年 6 月初，兩名太空人搭乘波音的「星際飛機」( Starliner ) 前往國際太空站，沒想到途中卻因推進器故障而被迫滯留，原本八天的太空旅程也慘變成八個月。研究指出，長時間待在太空對人體可能造成負面的影響，比如說：肌肉和骨骼退化、腸道菌叢改變、視力受損、認知準確度和速度減退等等。話說 effect 和 affect 都意指「影響」，兩字的用法有何分別呢？讓我們看下去。


▍effect (n) 影響（結果）
▶ 例 1：抽菸對人體有負面影響，包含心臟病、癌症和糖尿病。
Smoking has negative effects on the body, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
= Smoking negatively affects the body, causing such health risks as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

（註）影響 N：have an effect on N = affect N

▍affect (v) 影響
▶ 例 1：劇烈的情緒波動影響了他的人際關係。
His severe mood swings affected his personal relationships.
= His severe mood swings had effects on his personal relationships.