Meaning and Usage
The verb 増える (ふえる) means "to increase" or "to multiply." It is an intransitive verb, so it describes something growing in number or quantity by itself, without a direct object.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 増える when talking about populations, quantities, or abstract things like interest or expenses. For example, "観光客が増える" means "tourists increase."
Collocations and Patterns
- 増える + が (subject marker): Indicates what is increasing, e.g., "人が増える" (people increase).
- ～が増えている: Describes a current ongoing increase.
- 数が増える: The number increases.
Register and Politeness
増える is neutral and common in both casual and formal contexts. It is often used in news, reports, and everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 増える (intransitive) with 増やす (ふやす), which is transitive and means "to increase something." Remember, 増える happens by itself, while 増やす is when someone actively increases something.