How to say "thriving" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 盛んさかんJLPT N4approx.Common
    na-adjectiveThe adjective for thriving in the active, flourishing sense: business, trade, or activity that is doing well is described this way. It is the direct way to say something is thriving or successful.
  • 繁栄はんえいJLPT N1approx.Common
    noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThriving as an abstract noun: the prosperity and flourishing of a nation, city, or organization. It names the state of prosperity itself, as in wishing a country or company continued prosperity.
    繁栄はんえいは勤勉きんべんにかかっている。↗
    Prosperity depends on hard work.
  • 繁盛はんじょうJLPT N1approx.Common
    noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThriving in the commercial sense: a shop, restaurant, or business doing brisk trade and attracting many customers. This is the word for a business that is thriving, not for countries or plants.
    今いまあまり繁盛はんじょうしていません。↗
    My business is slow right now.
  • 隆盛りゅうせいCommon
    na-adjective, no-adjectiveThriving as a noun for the flourishing of a nation, family, or enterprise. It names a state of vigorous prosperity, as in an enterprise at the height of its flourishing.
  • 繁茂はんもCommon
    noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThriving only of plants: vegetation growing thickly and lushly. Often suggests growth so dense it spreads over an area, as with weeds, so it is not the word for thriving businesses or economies.

Choose 「盛ん」 for thriving activity in general, 繁盛 for a shop doing brisk business, 繁栄 for the prosperity of a nation or organization, 隆盛 for the flourishing of enterprises or families, and 繁茂 only for plants.

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

Japanese equivalents
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JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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