開発

• Reading: かいはつ
• Romaji: kaihatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 開 (kai) — to open; 発 (hatsu) — to emit, to depart, to develop
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ha.tsɯ/

Meaning

Development; cultivation; application. The process of creating or improving products, technology, or land.

A noun and suru-verb meaning to develop. 開発 is used across technology, real estate, and resource contexts. Common collocations include 開発する (to develop), ソフトウェア開発 (software development), 新製品開発 (new product development), and 開発途上国 (developing country). One of the most frequently used business terms.

Examples

1. 新しいアプリの開発に2年かかった。 It took two years to develop the new app.
2. この地域は今、大規模な開発が進んでいる。 Large-scale development is currently underway in this area.
3. 研究開発に力を入れている会社だ。 It's a company that puts a lot of effort into research and development.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, business, real estate

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 開 (to open) and 発 (to emit, to depart, to develop). The combination conveys the idea of opening up new possibilities through development.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal