興す

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 興す is a godan transitive verb read おこす, meaning to establish or start an industry or enterprise. Its past form is 興した.
• Basic usage: It appears when organized activity is newly established, such as creating an industry in a region or starting a small business with a colleague.
  • 若者たちは故郷で新しい産業を興した。 describes young people creating a new industry in their hometown; 彼は仲間と小さな事業を興す決意をした。 describes a decision to start a small business with an associate.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 産業を興した
  • を marks the industry as what was established, and the past form 興した shows that the founding action took place.
• 事業を興す決意
  • 事業を興す modifies 決意, specifying that the decision is to establish the business.
• 興す and 起こす
  • Both are read おこす, but the spelling 興す is used when the meaning is establishing or promoting an industry, enterprise, or similar activity.