革新|かくしんkakushin[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbreform; innovation
Conjugation
Dictionary form革新する(かくしんする)
Polite (masu)革新します(かくしんします)
Negative (nai)革新しない(かくしんしない)
polite (masen)革新しません(かくしんしません)
classical zu / nu革新せず・革新せぬ(かくしんせず・かくしんせぬ)
Past (ta)革新した(かくしんした)
polite (mashita)革新しました(かくしんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)革新しなかった(かくしんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)革新しませんでした(かくしんしませんでした)
Te form革新して(かくしんして)
Potential革新できる(かくしんできる)
Passive革新される(かくしんされる)
Causative革新させる(かくしんさせる)
Causative passive革新させられる(かくしんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)革新すれば(かくしんすれば)
tara革新したら(かくしんしたら)
Volitional革新しよう(かくしんしよう)
polite (mashou)革新しましょう(かくしんしましょう)
Imperative革新しろ(かくしんしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym刷新さっしんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means sweeping something out and making it completely new, as in 「人事の刷新」; 革新 stresses breaking through old systems and technology.
  • Synonym改革かいかくNeutralNeutral. Reforming institutions or organizations within the existing system, as in 「行政改革」; 革新 puts more emphasis on bringing in the new.
  • Synonym変革へんかくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Fundamentally changes systems or society, as in 「社会の変革」; can describe one's own fundamental change. 革新 stresses discarding the old for the new.
  • Synonym改新かいしんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Now mostly historical, as in 「大化の改新」; in everyday speech use 革新 or 改革 instead.
  • Related改変かいへんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Altering content so it differs from the original, as in 「遺伝子改変」; the result is not always better, while 革新 stresses renewal.
  • RelatedかいぜんNeutralNeutral. Fixing bad points to make things better, as in 「待遇改善」; a milder degree of change than 革新, which stresses bringing in the new.
  • Related改良かいりょうNeutralNeutral. Improving something to make it better, as in 「品種改良」; leans toward technique and quality, while 革新 implies bigger, newer change.
  • RelatedリノベーションNeutralNeutral loanword for renovating buildings and equipment; 革新 applies to systems and technology, not houses.
  • Related再編成さいへんせいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Reorganizing an existing organization, as in 「業界の再編成」; 革新 stresses introducing what is new.
  • Antonym保守ほしゅNeutralNeutral antonym. Guarding tradition and opposing drastic change, as in 「保守派」—the direct opposite of 革新; also means equipment maintenance.
  • Antonym現状維持げんじょういじNeutralNeutral antonym. Keeping things as they are and seeking no change; opposed to 革新 in the drive for what is new.

Use 「革新」 for breaking with old systems or creating new technology, as in 「技術革新」. For improvement within an existing system choose 「改革」, for fundamental change 「変革」, and for a sweeping renewal 「刷新」. 「改善」 and 「改良」 are milder fixes; the opposites are 「保守」 and 「現状維持」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 旧来きゅうらいの習慣しゅうかん・制度せいど・状態じょうたいなどを変かえて新あたらしいものにすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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