繁盛

はんじょう

prosperity, flourishing, thriving

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 繁盛 (はんじょう) refers to prosperity or flourishing, especially in the context of businesses or places with many customers. It conveys a sense of thriving activity and success.

Common Contexts

You will often hear 繁盛 used to describe shops, restaurants, companies, or markets that are busy and doing well financially. It implies a positive state of growth and popularity.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 繁盛する: to prosper or thrive (used with businesses or enterprises)
  • 繁盛している店: a thriving shop
  • 繁盛を続ける: to continue prospering

Register and Nuance

This word is somewhat formal and often used in written or business contexts. It is not casual slang but is common in everyday conversation when talking about business success.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 繁盛 with 繁忙 (はんぼう), which means "busy" or "hectic" but does not necessarily imply prosperity. 繁盛 emphasizes success and thriving, not just busyness.

Example Sentences

このみせはいつもおきゃくさんではんじょうしている。

This shop is always thriving with customers.

はんじょうしているかいしゃはしゃいんのモチベーションもたかい。

A thriving company also has high employee motivation.

むかしはこのとおりもはんじょうしていたが、いまはしずかだ。

This street used to be bustling, but now it is quiet.