Translation guide
The English verb "inflate" covers physical inflation (with air), figurative increase (prices, numbers), and exaggeration. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being inflated and whether it's literal or metaphorical.
To physically expand something by filling it with air or gas, like a balloon, tire, or air mattress.
Literally 'put air in'. A very common, casual way to say inflate, especially for tires, balls, and inflatable items.
タイヤに空気を入れた。
I inflated the tire.
Technical or formal term for causing expansion, often used in scientific contexts or for materials expanding due to heat/pressure.
気体を加熱して膨張させる。
Heat the gas to inflate it.
To cause prices, costs, statistics, or values to rise, often implying an unnatural or excessive increase.
To push up or inflate prices, bids, or values artificially. Often used in economic contexts.
需要が価格をつり上げた。
Demand inflated the prices.
To inflate numbers or figures dishonestly, like padding expenses or exaggerating data.
彼は経費を水増しした。
He inflated his expenses.
Intransitive verb meaning to swell or expand. Can be used for budgets, deficits, or numbers growing on their own.
To make a story, achievement, or quality seem larger or more impressive than it really is.
To exaggerate or overstate. The most direct equivalent for inflating a story or claim.
彼は自分の成功を誇張した。
He inflated his own success.
To say something in an exaggerated way; to make a big deal out of something. More colloquial than 誇張する.
彼はいつも話を大げさに言う。
He always inflates his stories.
To become larger or filled with air on its own, without an agent causing it.
Intransitive verb for swelling or expanding, used for balloons, bread, sails, etc.
風船が膨らんだ。
The balloon inflated.
Intransitive technical term for expansion, often due to heat or pressure.
空気が熱で膨張する。
Air inflates with heat.
Both mean to inflate with air, but 膨らませる focuses on the object expanding, while 空気を入れる focuses on the action of putting air in. For everyday items like tires and balls, 空気を入れる is more common.
ボールに空気を入れてください。
Please inflate the ball.
膨らませる is physical inflation. For inflating prices or figures, use つり上げる or 水増しする instead. Using 膨らませる for numbers sounds unnatural.
赤字が膨らんでいる。
The deficit is inflating.