増す

The Japanese verb 増す (ます - masu) is a sophisticated and versatile term primarily used to describe an increase in quantity, degree, intensity, or quality. While English speakers might simply use the word 'increase' for many situations, Japanese distinguishes between the physical addition of items and the more abstract intensification of states. Masu often leans toward the latter, capturing the way a feeling deepens, a sound grows louder, or a natural phenomenon becomes more pronounced. It is a 'Godan' verb, which means its conjugation follows the five-row pattern, ending in the 'u' sound in its dictionary form. Understanding 増す is crucial for moving beyond basic Japanese (A2) and into intermediate fluency (B1), as it allows you to describe the world with more nuance and emotional weight.

Core Concept

The fundamental idea is 'expansion' or 'augmentation.' It is not just about having 'one more' of something, but about the 'more-ness' of a specific attribute. For instance, if the wind gets stronger, it is not that there are 'more winds,' but that the wind's power has increased.

Abstract vs. Concrete

While it can be used for concrete things like the volume of water in a river (水かさが増す), it is most frequently encountered in abstract contexts like 'anxiety increasing' (不安が増す) or 'charm increasing' (魅力が増す). This makes it a favorite in literature and formal reporting.

Transitive and Intransitive Dualism

Interestingly, 増す can function both as an intransitive verb (something increases on its own) and a transitive verb (something increases another thing). For example, 'The cold increased' (寒さが増した) vs. 'The snow increased the cold' (雪が寒さを増した).

In daily life, you will hear this word when people talk about the weather, their feelings, or the value of something. It carries a slightly more formal or 'written' tone than the common verb 増える (ふえる - fueru), which is strictly for countable quantities. If you are describing the number of students in a class, use fueru. If you are describing the tension in a room, use masu. This distinction is what separates a student of Japanese from a master of the language.

Register and Context

In news broadcasts, you will hear it regarding 'river levels' (水位) or 'economic pressure.' In romantic novels, it describes 'increasing beauty' or 'growing longing.' In business, it might describe 'increasing responsibility.'

Furthermore, 増す is often used in compound structures or with specific particles like を (wo) or が (ga). When used as '～を増す', it often translates to 'to add to' or 'to increase [an attribute].' When used as '～が増す', it means '[the attribute] itself is increasing.' This flexibility makes it a powerful tool for expressive Japanese speakers who wish to convey subtle changes in the environment or the human heart.

Using 増す (ます) correctly requires a firm grasp of Japanese particles and the distinction between transitive and intransitive functions. Unlike some verbs that are strictly one or the other, 増す can bridge the gap depending on the context. In this section, we will explore the grammatical patterns that will help you use 増す like a native speaker. We will focus on three primary structures: the intransitive 'Subject + Ga + Masu', the transitive 'Object + Wo + Masu', and the usage of 'Masu' in comparisons.

Pattern 1: [Noun] が 増す (Intransitive)

This is the most common usage. Here, the noun itself is the thing that is increasing in intensity or quantity. It is often used for natural phenomena or emotions. For example, 'The heat increased' is Atsusa ga mashita.

Pattern 2: [Noun] を 増す (Transitive/Resultative)

In this structure, 増す behaves like a transitive verb where something (often implied or stated as a subject) causes an attribute to increase. For example, 'The spices increased the flavor' would be Supaisu ga aji o mashita.

Pattern 3: [Verb-te form] + 増す

While less common than simple nouns, you might see 増す following a verb in the te-form to show a progressive increase. However, it is more common to see '増していく' (to go on increasing).

When conjugating 増す, remember it is a Godan verb. This means its stem changes based on the following suffix. For the polite form, it becomes 増します (mashimasu). For the negative form, it becomes 増さない (masanai). For the past tense, it becomes 増した (mashita). A common point of confusion for beginners is the polite form 'Mashimasu' looking similar to the verb 'Masu' (to be/exist - though this is actually 'Arimasu' or 'Imasu'). Just remember that the dictionary form 増す is the root of all these variations.

Another important usage is in the phrase 「～にもまして」 (ni mo mashite). This is a set grammatical expression meaning 'even more than...' or 'above all else.' It uses the base verb 増す to create a comparison of intensity. For example, 'She is more beautiful than anyone' could be expressed as Kanojo wa dare ni mo mashite utsukushii. This is a highly literary and elegant way to emphasize a superlative quality.

Finally, let's look at how 増す interacts with adverbs. Words like mます (masumasu - increasingly) actually derive from this verb. You can also use adverbs like ichidan to (even more) or gutto (considerably) to modify 増す. For instance, 'The flavor significantly increased' would be Aji ga gutto mashita. By combining these adverbs with the verb, you can specify the rate and scale of the increase, providing a vivid picture for your listener or reader.

The verb 増す (ます) is deeply embedded in various layers of Japanese society, from the nightly news to the pages of classic literature. Unlike slang terms that come and go, 増す is a foundational word that provides a sense of gravity and precision. Understanding where you will encounter it helps you tune your ears to the correct register. It is particularly prevalent in contexts where change is being monitored, whether that change is environmental, social, or psychological.

The Weather and Natural Disasters

This is perhaps the most common place to hear 増す. Weather reporters frequently use it to describe rising water levels in rivers (水位が増す), increasing wind speed (風速が増す), or the intensifying heat of a heatwave. It conveys a sense of dynamic, ongoing change that is often outside of human control.

Literature and Song Lyrics

In Japanese literature (bungaku) and lyrics (kashi), 増す is used to describe the deepening of emotions. A character's 'loneliness increases' (寂しさが増す) or their 'love increases' (愛着が増す). It sounds more poetic and profound than the simpler 'fueru'.

News and Formal Reports

When discussing the economy or social issues, journalists use 増す to describe increasing pressure, tension, or importance. For example, 'The importance of international cooperation is increasing' (国際協力の重要性が増している).

In a professional setting, you might hear this word during a presentation or a meeting. A manager might say that the 'responsibility of each team member is increasing' (各メンバーの責任感が増している). Using 増す in these contexts shows that you are focused on the quality and the weight of the work, rather than just the number of tasks. It adds a layer of professionalism to your speech that basic verbs cannot provide.

You will also find 増す in historical documentaries and period dramas (jidaigeki). It is used to describe the 'increasing power' of a samurai clan or the 'increasing misery' of a famine. This historical usage underscores the word's longevity in the Japanese language. It is a word that has described the rise and fall of fortunes for centuries. In modern pop culture, you might hear it in anime when a villain's 'power level' increases or when a hero's 'determination' grows stronger.

Daily Conversations

While slightly formal, it is perfectly natural in daily conversation when discussing meaningful changes. 'The food tastes better the more you chew' (Kameba kamu hodo aji ga masu) is a common culinary observation. Or, 'As I get older, my appreciation for health increases' (Toshi o toru ni tsure, kenko no arigatami ga masu).

Learning to use 増す (ます) involves navigating several linguistic pitfalls. Because 'increase' is a broad concept in English, students often over-apply 増す where other Japanese verbs are more appropriate. Furthermore, the phonetic similarity to other common Japanese words can lead to embarrassing or confusing errors. In this section, we will dissect these common mistakes to ensure your Japanese remains natural and precise.

Mistake 1: Confusing 'Masu' with 'Fueru'

This is the #1 error. Fueru (増える) is for countable numbers or physical amounts (people, money, pens). Masu (増す) is for degree or intensity. Saying 'Gakusei ga mashita' (The students increased) sounds like the students themselves became 'more intense' or 'larger in presence,' which is usually not what you mean. You should say 'Gakusei ga fueta' (The number of students increased).

Mistake 2: The 'Polite Suffix' Trap

The polite verb ending ～ます (masu) is phonetically identical to the dictionary form of 増す. Beginners sometimes get confused when reading. If you see '増す' in kanji, it is the verb 'to increase.' If you see '～ます' in hiragana at the end of another verb (like 'tabemasu'), it is the polite suffix. Context usually clarifies this, but it can be a stumbling block in fast speech.

Mistake 3: Incorrect Particle Usage

Students often use the particle に when they should use が or を. For example, 'Atsusa ni mashita' is incorrect. It should be 'Atsusa ga mashita' (The heat increased). The only common time to use 'ni' is in the comparative phrase 'ni mo mashite'.

Another nuance mistake is using 増す for things that are inherently binary or non-scalable. You cannot 'increase' your presence if you aren't there at all; you must already have a presence for it to 'masu'. Similarly, it is rarely used for negative physical growth (like gaining weight). For gaining weight, the specific verb futoru (太る) or the noun-verb taijuu ga fueru (weight increases) is used. Using 増す in this context would sound very strange, almost as if your physical mass was becoming 'more intense'.

Lastly, be careful with the causative and passive forms. While they exist grammatically, they are rarely used in natural conversation compared to the simple intransitive/transitive forms. Over-complicating the verb often leads to unnatural-sounding Japanese. Stick to the patterns 'Noun ga masu' or 'Noun wo masu' for 90% of your needs. Also, avoid using 増す for 'adding' ingredients to a recipe in a casual way; tasu (足す) or kuwaeru (加える) are the standard choices there.

Summary of Misuse

Avoid using 増す for: Countable objects, personal weight, adding physical ingredients, or in place of the polite suffix. Use it for: Intensity, abstract qualities, and natural phenomena like river levels.

Japanese has a rich vocabulary for the concept of 'increase.' Choosing the right synonym depends on the context, the register, and whether the change is intentional or natural. 増す (ます) is often the most 'quality-focused' option, but it is helpful to know the alternatives to avoid repetition and to achieve higher precision in your speech and writing.

増える (ふえる - Fueru)

The most common alternative. Use this for numbers, quantities, and things you can count. It is intransitive. Example: 'The number of cars increased' (Kuruma ga fueta).

増やす (ふやす - Huyasu)

The transitive version of fueru. Use this when you intentionally increase a quantity. Example: 'I will increase my savings' (Chokin wo huyasu).

増加する (ぞうかする - Zouka suru)

A formal Sino-Japanese (Kango) word. It is used in academic papers, news reports, and business statistics. It sounds very objective and clinical. Example: 'The population is increasing' (Jinkou ga zouka shite iru).

高まる (たかまる - Takamaru)

Meaning 'to rise' or 'to heighten.' This is used for abstract things that have a 'vertical' feel, like expectations, tension, or reputation. Example: 'Expectations are rising' (Kitai ga takamaru).

When comparing 増す and 高まる, the difference is subtle. 増す feels like something is expanding or becoming more 'dense,' while 高まる feels like something is ascending to a higher level. For example, 'interest' (kyoumi) can both masu and takamaru. Using masu emphasizes the deepening of the interest, while takamaru emphasizes its rising intensity. In many cases, they are interchangeable, but 増す is slightly more literary.

Another interesting pair is 増す and 加わる (くわわる - Kuwawaru). Kuwawaru means 'to be added' or 'to join.' While 増す describes the overall increase, kuwawaru focuses on the addition of a new element that causes the increase. For example, 'New members were added to the team' (Team ni atarashii menba- ga kuwawatta). If those members make the team stronger, you could then say 'The team's strength increased' (Team no chikara ga mashita).

Comparison Table

• 増す: Quality, intensity, abstract (River level, beauty, fear).
• 増える: Quantity, countable (Money, people, books).
• 高まる: Rising degree (Popularity, tension, expectations).
• 増加: Formal/Technical (Population growth, data).

Finally, consider 強まる (つよまる - Tsuyomaru) which means 'to strengthen.' When 増す is used for power or influence, tsuyomaru is a very close synonym. 'The wind increased' can be 'Kaze ga mashita' or 'Kaze ga tsuyomatta.' The latter is more direct about the 'strength' (chikara) of the wind, while masu is a bit more descriptive of the overall presence of the wind.