1.
to have an influence on; to affect; to impact
To exert influence or produce an effect on something or someone. Can refer to both positive and negative effects.
天気が気分に影響を与える。
The weather affects one's mood.
この政策は経済に大きな影響を与えるだろう。
This policy will likely have a significant impact on the economy.
親の言動は子どもの成長に少なからず影響を与えるものだ。
Parents' words and actions inevitably have a considerable influence on their children's development.
A highly common expression combining 影響 (influence, effect) with 与える (to give). The person or thing being influenced takes the particle に.
PATTERN:
- AがBに影響を与える — A affects B / A has an influence on B
COMMON MODIFIERS:
- 大きな影響を与える — to have a big impact
- 悪い影響を与える — to have a bad influence
- 良い影響を与える — to have a good influence
- 深刻な影響を与える — to have a serious impact
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 影響する — to influence (more concise but slightly less natural in many contexts)
- 影響を及ぼす — to exert influence (more formal and written)
- 左右する — to sway, to influence decisively
USAGE:
This is the standard way to say "to affect" or "to influence" in Japanese. The passive form 影響を受ける (to be influenced, to be affected) is its natural counterpart for the receiving side.