How to say "reinforcement" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 強化きょうかnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general-purpose word: making something stronger, more intense, or more effective — rules, security, training, abilities. When you simply mean strengthening something, this is the word to reach for.
- 援軍えんぐんnounReinforcements in the military sense: troops that come to the aid of a hard-pressed force. For 'send for reinforcements', this is the word you want.
- 補強ほきょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReinforcement in a physical or structural sense: strengthening buildings, structures, or materials, or shoring up a weak point. Think of bracing something that might otherwise fail.
- 増強ぞうきょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAugmentation rather than repair: building up strength, capacity, or capability beyond its present level, as in expanding military power or organizational capacity.
- 増援ぞうえんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAlso military: additional troops sent to reinforce a unit or position. It stresses adding manpower, and overlaps with 援軍, which pictures the force arriving to help.
Choose 強化 for strengthening or enhancement in general, 補強 for physically shoring up weak points, 増強 for building up strength or capacity, and 援軍 or 増援 for military reinforcements, with 援軍 stressing the force that comes to help.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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