rise · sudden

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 勃 conveys rising or gaining force; its on-reading is ぼつ.
• Basic usage: 勃興 describes the rise of a city or movement, while 勃起 refers to the physiological phenomenon of erection.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A small っ
  • 勃興 is read ぼっこう, and 勃起 is read ぼっき. In both words, the end of ぼつ becomes a small っ.
• Contexts of use
  • 勃興 is used for the emergence of an art movement. Its meaning differs from the physiological term 勃起.