noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Often refers to the process of becoming civilized or enlightened, especially in historical contexts like the Meiji era. Can be used as a noun or as a suru-verb (開化する).
明治時代は日本の開化が急速に進んだ時期だ。
The Meiji period was a time when Japan's civilization advanced rapidly.
この地域はまだ十分に開化していない。
This region has not yet been fully civilized.