進化|しんかshinka[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, biologyevolution
    絶滅ぜつめつは進化しんかの一部いちぶである。↗
    Extinction is part of evolution.
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbevolution; becoming more advanced; progress; development; improvement
Conjugation
Dictionary form進化する(しんかする)
Polite (masu)進化します(しんかします)
Negative (nai)進化しない(しんかしない)
polite (masen)進化しません(しんかしません)
classical zu / nu進化せず・進化せぬ(しんかせず・しんかせぬ)
Past (ta)進化した(しんかした)
polite (mashita)進化しました(しんかしました)
Past negative (nakatta)進化しなかった(しんかしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)進化しませんでした(しんかしませんでした)
Te form進化して(しんかして)
Potential進化できる(しんかできる)
Passive進化される(しんかされる)
Causative進化させる(しんかさせる)
Causative passive進化させられる(しんかさせられる)
Conditional (ba)進化すれば(しんかすれば)
tara進化したら(しんかしたら)
Volitional進化しよう(しんかしよう)
polite (mashou)進化しましょう(しんかしましょう)
Imperative進化しろ(しんかしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym発展はってんNeutralGrowth in scale or advance to a higher stage, as in 「経済発展」; stresses size and force. 「進化」 is biological evolution at heart; figuratively it means becoming more advanced.
  • Synonym進歩しんぽNeutralThings moving in a good direction, as in 「技術の進歩」; no biological sense. Figurative 「進化」 stresses renewal and upgrading more.
  • Synonym発達はったつNeutralMaturing of body or mind, or growth in scale, as in 「交通の発達」; 「進化」 covers species evolution or the upgrading of things.
  • Related成長せいちょうNeutralGrowing up, maturing as a person, or economic growth, as in 「子供の成長」「経済成長」; about an individual getting bigger or stronger, not species evolving.
  • Related進展しんてんNeutralA situation moving forward, as in 「交渉の進展」; it is about a matter progressing, while 「進化」 is about change in traits or performance.
  • Related展開てんかいNeutralHow a story or situation unfolds, or a business rolls out, as in 「話の展開」; it is about the course and expansion of things, with no sense of evolution or improvement.
  • Related発育はついくWrittenPhysical growth of a body or organs, as in 「発育不良」; written style, confined to individual physiology, not species evolution or improvement.
  • Related伸長しんちょうWrittenWritten style: length, influence or ability extending, as in 「勢力の伸長」; quantitative growth, whereas 「進化」 is change in traits or upgrading.
  • Related育つそだつNeutralVerb for a person or living thing growing up or skills taking root, as in 「すくすく育つ」; individual growth, not species evolution.
  • Related伸びるのびるNeutralVerb for gains in height, records or ability, as in 「記録が伸びる」; about increases in length or figures, with no evolutionary sense.
  • RelatedプログレスNeutralLoanword for progress; rare in everyday use—say 「進歩」 or 「進展」 instead; no biological sense.
  • Related開化かいかWrittenWritten style: a culture advancing as new knowledge is gained, mostly in 「文明開化」; social and cultural only, not biological or technical evolution.
  • Related系統発生けいとうはっせいFormalFormal biology term for the history of how a species emerged and developed over the course of evolution; the object of research into 「進化」, not used in daily talk.
  • Related生い立つおいたつWrittenWritten, slightly old-fashioned verb for growing up; individual growth only—use 「育つ」 in daily speech; no species-evolution sense.
  • Antonym退化たいかNeutralThe opposite of 「進化」 in the sense of getting worse or going backward; in biology, an organ losing its function is itself part of evolution.

Use 「進化」 for the evolution of species and their traits, and figuratively for things becoming more advanced, as in 「AIの進化」. For growth in scale say 「発展」, for things getting better 「進歩」, and for an individual growing up 「成長」. For a matter moving forward use 「進展」, and for physical growth 「発育」. 「退化」 is the opposite.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 遺伝子いでんしの突然変異とつぜんへんいの累積るいせきなどにより、生物せいぶつの形質けいしつの多様化たようかが進すすむこと。または他たの種しゅに分化ぶんかすること。
  2. 優ゆう化か。好転こうてん。改良かいりょうされること。
  3. 遺伝子いでんしの突然変異とつぜんへんいの累積るいせきなどにより、生物せいぶつの形質けいしつの多様化たようかが進すすむ。または他たの種しゅに分化ぶんかする。
  4. 優ゆう化かする。好転こうてんする。改良かいりょうされる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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

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