How to say "improvement" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 改良かいりょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers improvement in the sense of making a product, system, or method better through changes or reform. Typical when talking about refining designs, techniques, or procedures.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA general word for betterment or improvement, often of conditions, situations, or performance. Common in everyday and business contexts when something is being made better than before.
- 維持いじnoun, suru verb, transitive verbPrimarily means maintenance or preservation, keeping something in its current state. Its gloss includes improvement, but it is seldom the word you want for that sense; choose it when you mean sustaining something.
- 向上こうじょうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbImprovement in the sense of elevation, rise, or advancement, often of levels, standards, or one's overall abilities. Suits contexts of striving upward, such as self-improvement or raising quality.
- 上達じょうたつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSpecifically improvement in skill or ability, such as progress in a sport, language, or art. Use this when talking about a person getting better at something through practice.
Use 改良 for improving things or methods, 「かいぜん」 for betterment generally, 向上 for advancement or rising standards, 上達 for improving skill or ability, and 維持 mainly for maintenance rather than improvement.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 改良かいりょうimprovement
- かいぜんbetterment
- 維持いじmaintenance
- 向上こうじょうelevation
- 上達じょうたつimprovement (e.g. in skill, ability)
- 改修かいしゅうrepair
- 進歩しんぽprogress
- 手直してなおしadjustment
- 回復かいふくrestoration
- 加筆かひつimprovement (to a piece of writing or painting)
- 推敲すいこうpolishing (a piece of writing)
- 上り調子のぼりちょうしrise
- リニューアルrenewal
- 良化りょうかimprovement
- 代わり映えかわりばえchange for the better
- 寛解かんかいremission
- 進境しんきょうprogress
- 補筆ほひつretouch
- 練磨れんまtraining
- レベルアップleveling up
- 整備せいびputting in place
- 充実じゅうじつenhancement
- 磨きみがきimprovement
- 進化しんかevolution
- バージョンアップupgrade (to a device, product, etc.)
- 尻上がりしりあがりrising tendency
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
