extend

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 伸 expresses lengthening or stretching out. 伸びる is read のびる, and 伸ばす is のばす.
• Basic usage: 草が伸びる describes grass growing; 腕を伸ばす means to stretch out an arm.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Growth and developing ability
  • 得意な分野を伸ばす means further developing one's stronger skills.
  • 伸ばす applies to developing abilities as well as to physical length.
• Expansion and contraction
  • 伸縮, read しんしゅく, describes expanding and contracting or the ability to do so.
  • It differs from 新築, building a new structure, even though the two have the same Korean pronunciation.