Japanese word

生長

Pronunciation

Romajiseichō

Meaning

  • noungrowth

Example

植物は春に生長します。shoku butsu wa haru ni sei chō shi ma su

Plants grow in spring.

Illustration for 生長 (growth)

More examples

十分な日光が当たると、この植物はよく生長します。jū bun na nik kō ga a ta ru to ko no shoku butsu wa yo ku sei chō shi ma su

This plant grows well when it gets enough sunlight.

Core concept

Refers to the biological process by which an organism gains size and develops its structure.

Common phrases

  • 生長を促すsei chō o unaga su

    promote growth

  • 生長の速度sei chō no soku do

    growth rate

  • 生長を抑えるsei chō o osa e ru

    suppress growth

Similar words

成長seichō: A general term for an organism's increase in size or development, often used in everyday language.
発育hatsuiku: The growth and development of a living organism, especially during an early stage.
生育seiiku: The growth and development of a plant under particular environmental conditions.

Definition in Japanese

生物が生命活動を続ける中で、体が大きくなり、その構造が発達すること。sei butsu ga sei mei katsu dō o tsuzu ke ru naka de karada ga ō ki ku na ri so no kō zō ga hat tatsu su ru ko to

Word origin

The word 生長 (seichō) uses the Sino-Japanese elements 生 (sei, "life") and 長 (chō, "become longer or grow") to express biological growth.

Usage tips

  • The term 生長 (seichō) is especially associated with plants in science, whereas 成長 (seichō) is common in everyday descriptions of people and their development.

Related words

  • 生長するseichōsurugrowverb

Word lists with this word