How to say "developing" in Japanese

• 新興しんこうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers the 'emerging' sense of 'developing': something newly risen and growing, such as an economy, industry, or firm. It is the common word of the four and the usual choice for this burgeoning nuance.
• 発展途上はってんとじょう
  no-adjectiveCovers 'developing' as 'still in the process of developing, not yet mature' — literally midway along the road of development — fitting an economy, industry, or town that has not reached full development.
• 発展的はってんてき
  na-adjectiveIts nuance is really 'developmental' — marked by or tending toward further growth — rather than 'developing' in the plain sense; it is seldom the word for something simply in the process of developing.
• 顕色けんしょく
  noun, suru verbA technical noun for the developing of color itself — the narrow sense where 'developing' means color emerging, not growth or progress. Unless color is what is developing, this is not the word you want.

Choose 新興 for the 'emerging' sense — newly risen, growing economies or industries; 発展途上 for an economy, industry, or town still in the process of developing; 発展的 for the 'developmental' nuance; 顕色 for color development alone.

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

• 新興しんこうrising
• 発展途上はってんとじょうdeveloping (e.g. industry, town, economy)
• 発展的はってんてきdeveloping
• 顕色けんしょくdevelopment