increase
N3- Onyomi
- ゾウ
- Kunyomi
- ふ(える)
- Stroke count
- 14
- JLPT
- N3
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 増 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 増 inside it, and let that scene stand for "increase" — increase. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 14
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は14画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 14 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
増殖
zoushoku
proliferation
増税
zouzei
tax increase
増強
zoukyou
reinforcement
激増
gekizou
sharp increase
増加
zouka
increase
増設
zousetsu
adding (facilities)
Example sentences (5)
人が増えたので、もっと広い場所を確保する必要があります。
ひと が ふえた ので、もっと ひろい ばしょ を かくほ する ひつよう が あります。
hito ga fueta node, motto hiroi basho o kakuho suru hitsuyou ga arimasu.
Since the number of people has grown, we need to secure a bigger space.
延期になったおかげで、準備する時間が増えました。
えんき に なった おかげ で、じゅんび する じかん が ふえました。
enki ni natta okage de, junbi suru jikan ga fuemashita.
Thanks to the postponement, we got more time to prepare.
宣伝のおかげで、お客さんがずいぶん増えました。
せんでん の おかげ で、おきゃくさん が ずいぶん ふえました。
senden no okage de, okyakusan ga zuibun fuemashita.
Thanks to the advertising, the number of customers increased a lot.
プログラミングの知識を増やしたいです。
ぷろぐらみんぐ の ちしき を ふやしたい です。
puroguramingu no chishiki o fuyashitai desu.
I want to increase my programming knowledge.
職場の人と話す機会が増えて、日本語が上手になりました。
しょくば の ひと と はなす きかい が ふえて、にほんご が じょうず に なりました。
shokuba no hito to hanasu kikai ga fuete, nihongo ga jouzu ni narimashita.
I got more chances to talk with people at work, and my Japanese improved.