開拓|かいたくkaitaku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbreclamation (e.g. of wasteland); cultivation; development
    新あらたな入植者にゅうしょくしゃ達たちがその広大こうだいな荒野あらのを開拓かいたくした。↗
    The newcomers cultivated the immense wilderness.
  2. noun, suru verb, transitive verbpioneering; opening up (e.g. of a new market); breaking new ground; trailblazing
    これらの製品せいひんの新あらたなる販路はんろを開拓かいたくせねばならない。↗
    We have to find a new market for these products.
Conjugation
Dictionary form開拓する(かいたくする)
Polite (masu)開拓します(かいたくします)
Negative (nai)開拓しない(かいたくしない)
polite (masen)開拓しません(かいたくしません)
classical zu / nu開拓せず・開拓せぬ(かいたくせず・かいたくせぬ)
Past (ta)開拓した(かいたくした)
polite (mashita)開拓しました(かいたくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)開拓しなかった(かいたくしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)開拓しませんでした(かいたくしませんでした)
Te form開拓して(かいたくして)
Potential開拓できる(かいたくできる)
Passive開拓される(かいたくされる)
Causative開拓させる(かいたくさせる)
Causative passive開拓させられる(かいたくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)開拓すれば(かいたくすれば)
tara開拓したら(かいたくしたら)
Volitional開拓しよう(かいたくしよう)
polite (mashou)開拓しましょう(かいたくしましょう)
Imperative開拓しろ(かいたくしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym開発かいはつNeutralFor developing resources or new products, as in 「新商品の開発」; it leans toward R&D, while 「開拓」 leans toward reclaiming wasteland and opening up new fields.
  • Related先駆せんくWrittenA written, formal word for a forerunner or trailblazer, as in 「時代の先駆」; it stresses the standing of one who leads the way rather than the act of opening things up.
  • Related先駆けさきがけNeutralA pioneer or one who takes the lead, as in 「春の先駆け」; it stresses being at the very front rather than the act of opening up new ground.
  • Antonym放棄ほうきWrittenA written, formal word for giving something up or abandoning it, as in 「権利の放棄」; it stands opposite to 「開拓」, which opens up and develops.
  • Antonym放置ほうちNeutralLeaving something unattended or neglected; it stands opposite to 「開拓」, which reclaims and cultivates.

Use 「開拓」 for reclaiming wasteland or opening up new markets and fields, as in 「北海道の開拓」 and 「新規顧客の開拓」. For R&D say 「開発」; for a pioneer say 「先駆け」; the opposite is 「放棄」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 山林さんりんや荒地あれちを切り開きりひらいて耕地こうちにすること。
  2. 新あたらしい分野ぶんやや領域りょういき、進路しんろなどを切り開きりひらくこと。その結果けっか新あらたに獲得かくとくすること。
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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