December 28, 2011　=========

☆ acquire　手に入れる

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“Acquire” is the more formal word meaning, “to get something”. It
is usually used when it took time and effort to get that thing. You can
also use it for intangible things like knowledge or a reputation.
For example:

I acquired this knowledge by reading the following books.
He has acquired a reputation as the country’s premier piano player.

By the way, do you know the phrase, “acquired taste”? This is used
to describe something that people don’t usually like at first, but after
a while they often start to like it. For example:

(In Japan) Natto is an acquired taste!
(In Australia) Vegemite is an acquired taste!
Living alone is an acquired taste.

What else would you describe as an acquired taste?

Bye,
Chris
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今日の言葉、「acquire(手に入れる)」は、「get」するのフォーマルな言い方です。
通常、手に入れるのに時間がかかり、大変だったという時に使います。
知識や評判など、形のないものに対しても使えます。
例：

・I acquired this knowledge by reading the following books.
私はこれらの本を読んで、この知識を手に入れた。

・He has acquired a reputation as the country’s premier piano player.
彼は国内で一番のピアノ奏者という名声を得た。

ところで、「acquired taste」というフレーズをご存知ですか？
これは、最初は気に入らなくても段々と好きになる、というような場合を表します。
例を挙げてみましょう：

(日本では)Natto is an acquired taste!
(オーストラリアでは) Vegimite is an acquired taste!

Living alone is an acquired taste.
(ひとり暮らしは、慣れると良いものだ)

他に、慣れると良くなるものはありますか？

それでは！
クリス