膨れる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 膨れる(ふくれる) means to swell in volume or, when describing a person, to sulk.
• Basic usage: It describes bread dough rising when left in a warm place.
  • パン生地は温かい場所に置くと膨れる。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Objects and people
  • 生地が膨れる describes dough increasing in volume. 不満そうに膨れる describes showing displeasure by sulking.
• Overlap with 膨らむ
  • 膨らむ(ふくらむ) also describes an increase in size or volume. The physical senses overlap, but 膨れる in the example about a sulking person has an emotional meaning.