なる

• Reading: なる
• Romaji: naru
• Kanji breakdown: 成 (sei/na) — to become, to accomplish, to form
• Pronunciation: /na.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To become; to get; to grow; to turn into. Expresses change of state — one of the most frequently used verbs in Japanese.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb conjugated with the る ending (なって, なった, なります). While the kanji 成る exists, it is almost always written in hiragana. Takes に for the result: 医者になる (become a doctor), 春になる (spring comes). Also used with adjectives: 暖かくなる (become warm), 静かになる (become quiet).

Examples

1. 大人になったら先生になりたいです。 When I grow up, I want to become a teacher.
2. だんだん暖かくなりました。 It gradually got warmer.
3. 夜になると静かになります。 When night comes, it becomes quiet.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, aspirations, change

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 成 shows a weapon (戈) combined with a mark of completion, originally meaning 'to accomplish' or 'to come into being.' The sense of transformation grew from this root.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal