Meaning and Usage
The verb "栄える" (さかえる) means "to flourish," "to prosper," or "to thrive." It is often used to describe places, cultures, businesses, or periods of time that experience growth, success, or prosperity.
Common Contexts
- Describing towns or cities that have economic or commercial success.
- Talking about cultural or artistic flourishing during certain historical periods.
- Referring to companies or organizations that grow or succeed due to innovation or favorable conditions.
Collocations and Patterns
- 商業が栄える (しょうぎょうがさかえる): commerce flourishes
- 文化が栄える (ぶんかがさかえる): culture flourishes
- 栄える時代 (さかえるじだい): a prosperous era
These collocations emphasize the subject's thriving state, often implying a positive and sustained growth.
Register and Nuance
"栄える" is a formal and literary verb, commonly found in written Japanese such as news articles, history books, and formal speeches. It is less common in casual conversation, where simpler verbs like "繁盛する" or "成功する" might be used.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "栄える" with "栄養" (えいよう, nutrition) due to similar kanji. Remember that "栄える" relates to prosperity and growth in a societal or cultural sense, not physical nourishment.