Japanese word

進化

Pronunciation

Romajishinka

Meaning

  • nounevolution

Example

スマートフォンの進化に驚きました。su mā to fo n no shin ka ni odoro ki ma shi ta

I was surprised by the evolution of smartphones.

Illustration for 進化 (evolution)

More examples

この道具は長い年月をかけて進化してきました。ko no dō gu wa naga i toshi tsuki o ka ke te shin ka shi te ki ma shi ta

This tool has evolved over many years.

Core concept

Describes a gradual change in living things or human-made things as their forms and features develop over time.

Common phrases

  • 進化の歴史shin ka no reki shi

    history of evolution

  • 人類の進化jin rui no shin ka

    human evolution

  • 進化を遂げるshin ka o to ge ru

    evolve significantly

Similar words

発展hatten: Progress toward a more developed or advanced state.
改良kairyō: A change that makes something work better or meet a purpose more effectively.
発達hattatsu: The growth of an ability, function, or structure over time.
変化henka: A general change in the state, form, or features of something.

Definition in Japanese

生物や物事が、時間の経過に伴って性質や形を変化させていくこと。sei butsu ya mono goto ga ji kan no kei ka ni tomona tte sei shitsu ya katachi o hen ka sa se te i ku ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 進化 (shinka) combines 進 (shin, "advance") and 化 (ka, "change"), giving the sense of change that moves something forward.

Usage tips

  • In biology, evolution refers to changes in populations across generations, while in everyday technology talk it can describe changes in products such as smartphones.

Opposites

Related words

  • 進化するshinkasuruevolveverb
  • 進化論shinkaronevolutionary theorynoun
  • 進化的shinkatekievolutionaryna-adjective

Word lists with this word