生長

• Reading: せいちょう
• Romaji: seichou
• Kanji breakdown: 生 (sei) — life, to live; 長 (chou) — long, grow
• Pronunciation: /seː.tɕoː/

Meaning

Growth (biological). The process of a living organism growing in size.

A suru-verb (生長する) used specifically for biological growth of plants, crops, and organisms. An intransitive verb — the living thing grows on its own. Distinguished from 成長, which covers broader personal and economic growth. Primarily found in scientific, agricultural, and nature contexts.

Examples

1. 春になると植物が一気に生長する。 When spring comes, plants grow rapidly all at once.
2. この木は一年で二メートルも生長した。 This tree grew as much as two meters in a single year.
3. 日光が十分でないと作物の生長が遅くなる。 Without enough sunlight, crop growth slows down.

Usage Guide

Context: biology, agriculture, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 生 (sei, life/to live) and 長 (chou, long/grow). Literally 'living and growing' — specifically describing the biological increase in size of living things.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal