膨らむ

• Reading: ふくらむ
• Romaji: fukuramu
• Kanji breakdown: 膨 (bou/fuku) — swell, expand, bulge
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.kɯ.ɾa.mɯ/

Meaning

To swell; to expand; to bulge; to grow larger. Used for physical expansion and for hopes, dreams, or costs that increase.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. The physical sense covers bread rising, balloons inflating, and cheeks puffed out. The figurative sense is extremely common: 夢が膨らむ (dreams grow), 期待が膨らむ (expectations swell), and 赤字が膨らむ (deficits balloon). The sense of natural, organic growth distinguishes it from more forceful expansion verbs.

Examples

1. 子どもたちの夢が膨らむように、丁寧に話を聞いた。 She listened carefully to let the children's dreams grow.
2. 工事費用が当初の見積もりの三倍に膨らんでしまった。 The construction costs ballooned to three times the original estimate.
3. 朝、オーブンから取り出したパンがふっくらと膨らんでいた。 The bread taken out of the oven in the morning had risen up soft and plump.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, economics, cooking, emotions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese ふくらむ, related to the root ふく (to puff, blow). The kanji 膨 specifically denotes swelling or distension of the body or an object. Cognate with ふっくら (plump) and 膨れる (to swell with emotion).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal