How to say "develop" in Japanese

• 生い立つおいたつ
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'develop' only in the sense of growing up: how a person has grown and been formed over the years. For other senses of 'develop' it is seldom the word you want.
• 進化を遂げるしんかをとげる
  expression, ichidan verbCovers 'develop' as dramatic progress or evolution: a method, style, or the like advancing to a higher stage. Typical context: describing how a technique or approach has evolved markedly over time.
• 高じるこうじる
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'develop' only where something grows in intensity or takes a turn for the worse, such as a symptom or situation escalating. It is really about aggravation, seldom the word for neutral 'develop'.
• 蓄えるたくわえるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'develop' in the sense of building up skills, knowledge, or experience gradually over time. A common word and the everyday choice for this sense.

Choose by sense: 「生い立つ」 for growing up, 「進化を遂げる」 for a method or style evolving, 「高じる」 for something intensifying or worsening, and 「蓄える」 for building up skills or knowledge — only 「蓄える」 is common.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 生い立つおいたつto grow
• 進化を遂げるしんかをとげるto make progress
• 高じるこうじるto grow in intensity
• 開けるひらけるto develop (of a town, civilization, etc.)
• 蓄えるたくわえるto accumulate (e.g. knowledge)
• 進めるすすめるto raise
• 育てるそだてるto promote the growth of
• あげるto develop (talent, skill, etc.)
• 立つたつto develop (of a haze, waves, etc.)
• 入るはいるto form (of a crack, fissure, etc.)
• ひらくto open up (new land, path, etc.)
• 伸びるのびるto make progress
• 伸ばすのばすto strengthen
• 養うやしなうto cultivate (a habit, a quality, etc.)
• 立てるたてるto make