增长

• Pinyin: zēng zhǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 增 = 土 (earth) + 曾 (once, layer), meaning 'to increase'; 长 = pictograph of a person with long hair, meaning 'long' or 'to grow' (zhǎng)

Meaning

To grow; to increase. Refers to steady or continuous growth, especially in economic, statistical, or developmental contexts.

Implies a gradual and sustained increase over time. More formal than 增加 and typically used for abstract or large-scale growth: 经济增长 (economic growth), 知识增长 (growth of knowledge), 人口增长 (population growth).

Examples

1. 今年的经济增长速度很快。 The speed of economic growth has been very fast this year.
2. 旅行可以增长我们的见识。 Travelling can broaden our horizons.
3. 中国的出口额在不断增长。 China's export volume is continuously growing.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, statistics, development

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• GDP增长了百分之五。(GDP grew by five percent.)
• 读书可以增长知识。(Reading can increase knowledge.)

Don't Say

• 我的身高增长了。(For personal physical growth, use 长高了 — 增长 is for abstract or large-scale growth)

Origin & History

增 (to increase, to add) + 长 (to grow, long). Together: to grow by increasing — sustained growth.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal