Meaning and Usage
"成長" (せいちょう) primarily means "growth" and is used to describe physical, mental, or organizational development. It is a common noun and often appears in contexts related to children growing up, companies expanding, or personal development.
Common Collocations
- 成長する (せいちょうする): to grow or develop; used for living beings or organizations.
- 精神的な成長 (せいしんてきなせいちょう): mental or emotional growth.
- 経済成長 (けいざいせいちょう): economic growth.
Usage Notes
When using 成長, speakers often imply a positive development or improvement over time. It can refer to physical size increase, maturity, or progress in skills and abilities.
Be careful not to confuse 成長 with 発展 (はってん), which also means development but is more often used for abstract or large-scale progress like technology or society rather than personal or biological growth.