enthusiast; fan; lover; devotee; aficionado
Refers to someone who deeply enjoys and appreciates a particular hobby, art form, or field. Often used in compound nouns like 音楽愛好家 (music lover) or ワイン愛好家 (wine enthusiast).
He is a classical music enthusiast.
This event is unmissable for film lovers.
愛好家 is a more formal, neutral word for a devoted enthusiast, while マニア can carry a stronger sense of obsession or quirkiness.
愛好家 means someone who loves or enjoys something, while 通 implies deep, discerning knowledge, not just fondness.
Compound of 愛好 (aikō, 'love, fondness') + 家 (ka, 'person, expert'). The suffix 家 denotes a specialist or connoisseur.