How to say "grow" in Japanese

• なるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'grow' when it means entering a new state, as in 'grow old', 'grow tall', 'grow dark'. In these uses it is really the verb 'become', not growth of a living thing.
  あなたがいなくなるととても寂さびしくなります。↗

  When you go, I'll miss you very much.
• 生えるはえるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbFor things that sprout or spring up of themselves — plants coming up, and hair or teeth emerging. When 'grow' describes something appearing from the ground or the body, this is the natural choice.
  おたまじゃくしは大おおきくなるにつれ、尻尾しっぽが消きえて足あしが生はえはじめる。↗

  As a tadpole grows, the tail disappears and legs begin to form.
• 育つそだつJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbUsed for living things growing up and maturing — a child being raised, animals and plants developing to full growth. Choose it when 'grow' implies development over time toward adulthood or maturity.
  植物しょくぶつは土壌どじょうで育そだつ。↗

  Plants are nourished by earth.
• 増すますJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbCovers 'grow' in the sense of increasing — amounts, numbers, or degree, as when pain or demand grows. If 'grow' could be replaced by 'increase', this is the word to reach for.
  その知しらせで彼かれの不安ふあんが増ました。↗

  The news added to his anxiety.
• 植えるうえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbIts core sense is 'to plant' — putting trees or flowers in the ground. It also covers 'grow' as cultivation, where a person grows crops; a plant's own growing takes other verbs.
  私は庭にわにバラを植うえた。↗

  I planted roses in the garden.

English 'grow' splits by what is growing and how: states (「なる」), things sprouting (「生える」), living things maturing (「育つ」), amounts increasing (「増す」), and plants a person cultivates (「植える」).

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

• なるto become
• 生えるはえるto grow
• 育つそだつto be raised (e.g. child)
• 増すますto increase
• 植えるうえるto plant
• 生やすはやすto grow
• 伸びるのびるto stretch
• 生すむすto grow (of moss, grass, etc.)
• 長ずるちょうずるto grow
• 生い立つおいたつto grow
• 長じるちょうじるto grow
• 増さるまさるto increase
• 作るつくるto raise
• 加わるくわわるto increase (e.g. heat)
• 蓄えるたくわえるto grow (a beard, moustache, etc.)
• くるto come to be
• 開けるひらけるto develop (of a town, civilization, etc.)
• できるto grow (of a crop)
• 寄るよるto grow (wrinkly)