Translation guide
The English verb 'grow' covers several distinct meanings: increasing in size (people, plants, things), cultivating plants, increasing in amount or intensity, and developing personal qualities. Japanese uses different verbs for each, and some uses require specific patterns.
To become bigger or taller naturally over time.
Intransitive verb for living things growing up or developing. Focuses on the natural process.
Children grow quickly.
This plant grows well even in the shade.
More formal or abstract 'grow/develop', used for people, animals, plants, and also for economic growth.
Children grow both mentally and physically.
Literally 'become big'. Very common and natural for any physical growth, including non-living things.
The dog grew suddenly.
To raise or nurture plants intentionally.
To become greater in number, level, or strength.
Intransitive verb for increase in number or quantity. Used for countable things, population, etc.
The population is growing.
My workload has grown recently.
Formal 'increase/grow', often used in news or reports.
Demand grew rapidly.
Intransitive verb for abstract things like feelings, tension, or awareness growing stronger.
To gradually start to have a particular feeling or characteristic.
Pattern meaning 'come to ~', used to express a gradual change in state or ability. Attach to verb dictionary form.
He grew more confident.
I grew able to speak Japanese.
For i-adjectives, replace い with くなる to mean 'become/grow ~'.
It grew colder.
For na-adjectives and nouns, add になる to mean 'become/grow ~'.
He grew famous.
To let hair, beard, or nails become longer, often intentionally.
To expand in scale, profit, or influence.
育つ (そだつ) is intransitive: something grows by itself. 育てる (そだてる) is transitive: someone raises or grows something. Compare: 花が育つ (The flower grows) vs 花を育てる (I grow flowers).
育つ is only for living things. For objects getting bigger, use 大きくなる. For abstract growth, use 増える or 高まる.
When 'grow' means a gradual change in state or ability, 〜ようになる is often the most natural choice. It attaches to the dictionary form of verbs.
Growing roses is difficult.
期待が高まる。
Expectations grow.
A beard is starting to grow.