Translation guide
The English word 'growing' can refer to physical increase in size, emotional or intellectual development, or cultivation of plants. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To describe something that is becoming larger, more numerous, or more intense over time.
General verb for increase in number or quantity. Used for countable things, population, etc.
最近、外国人の観光客が増えている。
The number of foreign tourists has been growing recently.
Formal term for increase, often used in news or reports.
高齢者の人口が増加している。
The elderly population is growing.
To become bigger in physical size. Common for children, plants, animals.
子供がどんどん大きくなっている。
The child is growing quickly.
To grow or mature, often used for living things or economies.
この植物は早く成長する。
This plant grows fast.
To expand or enlarge, used for scale, scope, business, etc.
事業を拡大している。
We are growing our business.
To describe personal growth, maturing, or gaining experience.
Used for personal development, emotional maturity, or skill improvement.
彼はこの経験で大きく成長した。
He grew a lot from this experience.
To grow as a person, emphasizing character development.
留学して人間的に成長したい。
I want to grow as a person by studying abroad.
To improve or make progress, often used for skills or abilities.
To describe the act of growing plants, crops, or flowers.
To raise or grow plants, children, or animals. Transitive verb.
庭で野菜を育てている。
I am growing vegetables in the garden.
To cultivate, used for agricultural crops or gardening.
この地域では米を栽培している。
They grow rice in this region.
To plant, focusing on the action of putting seeds/plants into the ground.
To describe something that is becoming more noticeable or developing over time.
Attach to verb te-form to indicate a gradual change that has been happening and continues. Often used with adjectives like 大きく (big) or 増えて (increase).
だんだん寒くなってきた。
It's been growing colder.
最近、疲れがたまってきた。
Fatigue has been growing lately.
Adverb meaning 'more and more' or 'increasingly', used before adjectives or verbs.
彼の話はますます面白くなった。
His story grew more and more interesting.
育てる is transitive (someone grows something), while 成長する is intransitive (something grows on its own). Use 育てる for raising children, pets, or plants; use 成長する for natural growth or personal development.
母は花を育てている。
My mother grows flowers.
子供はすくすく成長している。
The child is growing up healthy.
English often uses 'growing' as an adjective (e.g., 'growing concern'). Japanese typically uses verbs like 高まる (たかまる) or 増える (ふえる) instead of a direct adjective form.
日本文化への関心が高まっている。
There is a growing interest in Japanese culture.
その会社は急速に成長している。
The company is growing rapidly.
His English ability is growing rapidly.
I planted flower seeds in spring.