• 増加ぞうか — increase / growth
• 増強ぞうきょう — reinforcement
• 増税ぞうぜい — tax increase
• 増員ぞういん — increase in personnel
• 増築ぞうちく — building extension

More examples ▼

増 combines the radical 土 (earth) with 曾 (phonetic). Historically, it meant “to add more earth,” symbolizing growth or expansion. The character retains the sense of multiplying, enlarging, or augmenting in modern Japanese.

人口じんこうが 年々ねんねん増ふえている。
The population is increasing year by year.

予算よさんが 増加ぞうかした。
The budget increased.