成長

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 成長 is read as せいちょう and is a noun and する verb for the growth or development of a living thing, person, or ability.
• Basic usage: Recording a seedling’s growth appears in 苗木の成長を記録する, while experience causing a person to grow appears in 経験が彼を成長させる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Intransitive and causative forms
  • Use 成長する for growing and 成長させる when an experience or another factor causes someone or something to grow.
• Difference from 発達
  • Unlike the word readily used for the development of an organ, function, or system, this term broadly describes a person or living thing growing and maturing.