How to say "development" in Japanese

• 開発かいはつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbDevelopment as creating or building something: developing land, products, technology or resources. It is not the word for a child's or a person's development.
  エンドユーザーの視野しやにたった商品しょうひん開発かいはつが必須ひっす。↗

  Our new product development efforts must be done from the end user's viewpoint.
• 展開てんかいJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbDevelopment as the unfolding or progression of a plot, argument or situation. It is seldom the word you want for economic or personal development; think of how events unfold rather than grow.
  その事件じけんの展開てんかいについて引き続ひきつづきお知しらせ下ください。↗

  Please keep me informed of the development of the case.
• 発展はってんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbDevelopment as growth and expansion — of an economy, city, industry or organization. Think of economic development or a region's expansion rather than of personal or physical development.
  彼かれらは町まちの発展はってんに大おおいに貢献こうけんしてくれるだろう。↗

  They will contribute greatly to the growth of the town.
• 発達はったつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbDevelopment of living things: the physical and mental development of a child, of the body, brain or abilities. This is the word for biological or psychological development, not for developing products or land.
  水泳すいえいは筋肉きんにくを発達はったつさせる。↗

  Swimming develops our muscles.
• 成長せいちょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbPrimarily growth: physical growth, growing up, becoming an adult. As 'development' it suggests maturing or personal growth rather than technical or economic development.
  ジェーンは成長せいちょうして素敵すてきな女性じょせいになった。↗

  Jane grew up to be a fine lady.

Choose 開発 for developing land, products or technology; 発展 for the expansion of economies, cities or organizations; 発達 for biological or psychological development; 成長 for growth and maturing; 展開 for the unfolding of plots, arguments or events.

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

• 開発かいはつdevelopment
• 展開てんかいdevelopment
• 発展はってんdevelopment
• 発達はったつdevelopment
• 成長せいちょうgrowth
• 現像げんぞうdevelopment (of film)
• 造成ぞうせいdevelopment (of land)
• のびgrowth
• 開拓かいたくreclamation (e.g. of wasteland)
• 進展しんてんprogress
• 啓発けいはつenlightenment
• 養成ようせいtraining
• 生育せいいくbirth and growth
• 成り行きなりゆきcourse (of events)
• 生い立ちおいたちgrowth
• 発育はついく(physical) growth
• 沿革えんかくhistory
• 拓殖たくしょくcolonization
• 推移すいいtransition
• 進歩しんぽprogress
• 起こしおこしdevelopment
• ディベロップメントdevelopment
• 開発事業かいはつじぎょうdevelopment (work)
• 顕色けんしょくdevelopment
• 涵養かんようcultivation (of character, virtue, etc.)
• 動きうごきtrend
• 発生はっせいontogeny
• 整備せいびputting in place
• 経過けいかprogress
• 行方ゆくえoutcome
• 進化しんかevolution
• 制作せいさくproduction
• 歩みあゆみcourse (of history, one's life, etc.)
• 展開図てんかいずnet (of a polyhedron)