A2 verb ニュートラル #401 よく出る 2分で読める

acquire

/əˈkwaɪər/

Acquire means to obtain something, often through effort, learning, or a formal process.

30秒でわかる単語

  • Gain possession through effort or learning.
  • Formal term for obtaining something.
  • Used in business, education, and personal growth.

Overview

The word 'acquire' means to gain possession of something, whether it's a tangible item, an intangible skill, or knowledge. It suggests that the acquisition is not instantaneous but often involves some form of effort, learning, or a deliberate process.

Overview: At its core, 'acquire' signifies obtaining something that you didn't have before. This can range from acquiring a new language (learning it), acquiring a new skill (practicing it), acquiring a business (through purchase or merger), or acquiring knowledge (through study). It's a versatile verb that covers a broad spectrum of gaining and possessing.

Usage Patterns: 'Acquire' is generally considered a neutral to formal word. While it can be used in everyday conversation, it's more common in written English and in more formal spoken contexts like business meetings, academic discussions, or official reports. In informal settings, people might use simpler verbs like 'get' or 'learn.' For instance, instead of saying 'I want to acquire fluency in Spanish,' one might say 'I want to get fluent in Spanish.' However, 'acquire' lends a sense of purpose and effort to the act of obtaining.

**Common Contexts:**

  • Work/Business: Companies acquire other companies, employees acquire new skills, and businesses acquire new clients or market share. This is a very frequent context for the word.
  • Education/Learning: Students acquire knowledge from textbooks, teachers, and lectures. Learners acquire new languages, skills, or academic qualifications.
  • Personal Development: Individuals might aim to acquire a new hobby, a physical asset like a car or a house, or personal qualities like patience or confidence.

例文

1

It takes years to acquire mastery in a complex field.

academic

Il faut des années pour acquérir la maîtrise dans un domaine complexe.

2

The company aims to acquire new customers through aggressive marketing.

business

L'entreprise vise à acquérir de nouveaux clients grâce à un marketing agressif.

3

Children naturally acquire language skills by listening and interacting.

daily life

Les enfants acquièrent naturellement des compétences linguistiques en écoutant et en interagissant.

4

He managed to acquire a rare stamp for his collection.

formal

Il a réussi à acquérir un timbre rare pour sa collection.

5

She wants to acquire a deeper understanding of the subject.

academic

Elle souhaite acquérir une compréhension plus approfondie du sujet.

6

Many people hope to acquire their own home someday.

daily life

Beaucoup de gens espèrent acquérir leur propre maison un jour.

反対語

lose forfeit relinquish

よく使う組み合わせ

acquire knowledge acquérir des connaissances
acquire skills acquérir des compétences
acquire a business acquérir une entreprise
acquire property acquérir une propriété
acquire the habit prendre l'habitude
acquire fluency acquérir la fluidité

よく使うフレーズ

acquire knowledge

acquérir des connaissances

acquire skills

acquérir des compétences

acquire a taste for

prendre goût à

よく混同される語

acquire vs obtain

'Obtain' is a synonym and often interchangeable with 'acquire,' but 'acquire' can sometimes suggest a longer process or learning curve.

acquire vs achieve

'Achieve' means to successfully reach a goal or complete something, often through effort. You can achieve a goal, but you acquire an object or skill.

文法パターン

acquire + noun (e.g., acquire knowledge) acquire + noun phrase (e.g., acquire a new skill) to acquire + noun (infinitive phrase, e.g., He wants to acquire fluency) be acquiring + noun (present continuous, e.g., The company is acquiring assets)

How to Use It

使い方のコツ

Use 'acquire' when emphasizing the process of gaining something, especially skills, knowledge, or significant assets. It is generally more formal than 'get' and implies a deliberate action or learning period.


よくある間違い

Learners sometimes use 'acquire' in very informal contexts where a simpler verb like 'get' would be more natural. Also, ensure the correct noun form ('acquisition') is used when referring to the act or result of acquiring.

Tips

💡

Think of effort

When you see 'acquire,' think about the effort or process involved in obtaining it, whether it's learning a skill or making a purchase.

⚠️

Avoid overuse in informal talk

While correct, using 'acquire' too often in casual conversation can sound overly formal or even pretentious. Stick to 'get' or 'learn' for simplicity.

🌍

Business acquisitions

In the business world, 'acquisition' is a key term referring to the strategic takeover or purchase of one company by another.

語源

From Latin 'acquirere,' meaning 'to gain, get, obtain,' composed of 'ad-' (to) and 'quaerere' (to seek, ask for).

文化的な背景

In many cultures, the ability to 'acquire' knowledge and skills is highly valued as a path to social mobility and personal fulfillment.

覚え方のコツ

Imagine 'a choir' (choir) singing perfectly - they had to 'acquire' that skill through lots of practice!

よくある質問

8 問

'Get' is a more general and informal term for obtaining something. 'Acquire' often implies more effort, a process, or a formal transaction.

Yes, you can acquire abstract things like knowledge, skills, habits, or even a reputation.

Generally, yes. It implies gaining something, but the context can sometimes imply negative acquisitions, like acquiring a disease.

It means one company buys or takes control of another company.

You acquire a skill through practice, study, and experience over time.

It can be, but it's often replaced by simpler verbs like 'get' or 'learn' in very informal situations. It's more common in formal or written contexts.

Common opposites include 'lose,' 'relinquish,' 'forfeit,' or 'give up.'

No, it means to obtain something. This can be through buying, learning, earning, inheriting, or other means.

自分をテスト

fill blank

She is determined to ______ fluency in French before her trip.

正解! おしい! 正解: c

The sentence requires the base form of the verb 'acquire' to complete the infinitive phrase 'to acquire fluency'.

multiple choice

What does it mean to 'acquire' something?

正解! おしい! 正解: b

'Acquire' means to get or obtain something, often through effort or a process.

sentence building

skills / new / acquire / to / wants / He

正解! おしい! 正解: He wants to acquire new skills.

The sentence follows the standard English subject-verb-object structure, with 'to acquire new skills' functioning as the object of 'wants'.

スコア: /3

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Educationの関連語

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スキル習得のための潜在的な可能性や、そのための素質がある状態を表します。

abcedation

C1

Abcedation refers to the act of teaching, learning, or arranging something in alphabetical order. It is an obscure or technical term used primarily in archival, linguistic, or historical educational contexts to describe systematic organization or initial literacy.

abcognful

C1

An abcognful refers to the maximum amount of abstract cognitive data an individual can consciously process or hold in working memory at one time. It is a specialized term used in psychometric testing to quantify the upper limits of conceptual synthesis and mental agility.

ability

A1

Ability is the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something. It describes what a person is capable of achieving through talent or training.

abspirary

C1

研究や計画の中心ではなく、本来の目的から少しずれた副次的な目標のこと。

abstract

B2

A brief summary of a research paper, thesis, or report that highlights the main points and findings. It is typically found at the beginning of a document to help readers quickly understand the core purpose and results.

abstruse

C1

Describing something that is difficult to understand because it is intellectual, complex, or obscure. It is typically used for subjects, theories, or language that require significant effort or specialized knowledge to grasp.

academic

A2

Relating to schools, colleges, and universities, or connected to studying and thinking rather than practical or technical skills. It is often used to describe subjects like history, math, and science that are studied in an educational setting.

accreditation

B2

教育機関やプログラムが一定の品質基準を満たしていると公式に認められること。信頼の証だね。

admission

B2

Admission refers to the permission or right to enter a place, organization, or institution, often involving a specific process or fee. It also describes a statement acknowledging that something is true, typically something that is personal, embarrassing, or an error.

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