速読中にkindを種類と解釈し訳が分からなくなった。

引用：The Economist – America’s presidential election

Presidential elections tend not to be kind to candidates who pitch their camp far from the political centre.

そもそも久しくbe kind toで～に優しいの表現を使っていなかったので頭から消え去っていたのが嵌りの原因。be kind toの場合は～に優しいを先に連想すると良い。

ここにkindの用法を纏めます。

generous, helpful, and thinking about other people’s feelings

引用 : cambridge

She’s a very kind and thoughtful person.
It’s very kind of you to help us.
Please be kind to your sister!
formal Would you be kind enough to/so kind as to close the door? (= please would you do this)

not causing harm or damage

引用 : cambridge

kind to the environment
This soap is kinder to the skin.

a group with similar characteristics, or a particular type

引用 : cambridge

What kind of (a) job are you looking for?
I just don’t have that kind of money (= I don’t have so much money).

話し言葉で「～の類の」という表現で良く使われる。この用法はukだとsort ofが良く使われる。usではkind of

引用 : cambridge

He’s kind of jealous that they have become such good friends.

I’m sorry but she’s just kind of lost interest in buying the car.