拡大

• Reading: かくだい
• Romaji: kakudai
• Kanji breakdown: 拡 (kaku) — spread, expand; 大 (dai) — big, large
• Pronunciation: /ka.kɯ.da.i/

Meaning

Magnification; enlargement. Making something bigger or expanding its scope.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (拡大する). Used for both physical enlargement (magnifying images, expanding territory) and abstract expansion (business growth, spreading influence). The intransitive form 拡大する means 'to expand' while the transitive use means 'to enlarge something.' Opposite of 縮小 (reduction).

Examples

1. 地図を拡大して目的地を確認した。 I zoomed in on the map to check the destination.
2. 会社は海外への事業拡大を計画している。 The company is planning to expand its business overseas.
3. 感染が拡大しないように注意が必要だ。 We need to be careful to prevent the infection from spreading.

Usage Guide

Context: business, technology, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 拡 (kaku, to spread/expand) and 大 (dai, big/large). Together, 'spreading to become large' — the concept of making something greater in size or scope.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal