増加

• Reading: ぞうか
• Romaji: zouka
• Kanji breakdown: 増 (zō) — increase, add; 加 (ka) — add, join, include
• Pronunciation: /zoː.ka/

Meaning

Increase; addition; growth. A quantitative rise in number, amount, or degree.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (増加する). Used both transitively and intransitively. The formal counterpart of 増える (to increase). Common patterns include 人口増加 (population growth), 急激に増加する (to increase sharply), and 増加傾向 (upward trend). Frequently appears in news, academic writing, and business reports. The opposite is 減少 (decrease).

Examples

1. 外国人観光客の数が増加している。 The number of foreign tourists is increasing.
2. ネット犯罪が急激に増加した。 Cybercrime has increased sharply.
3. 運動不足による肥満の増加が問題になっている。 The rise in obesity due to lack of exercise has become a problem.

Usage Guide

Context: news, statistics, business

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 増 (zō, increase/add) and 加 (ka, add/join). Both characters reinforce the idea of adding more — a double emphasis on growth.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal