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B2 noun #6,000 most common 11 min read

助長

jocho Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 助長 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 助長 in your Level:

The word '助長' (jochou) is too difficult for A1. At this level, you should focus on simple words like 'もっと' (more) or '悪い' (bad). If you want to say something is making a bad thing grow, you might say 'もっとわるくなる' (becomes worse). '助長' is a very formal word used in news and books. It has two parts: '助' which means 'help' and '長' which means 'grow.' But in Japanese, this 'help to grow' is only used for bad things, like being angry or a problem getting bigger. Imagine a small fire getting bigger because of the wind. That 'getting bigger' because of something else is what 'jochou' means. But for now, just remember that Japan has special words for when bad things grow. You will learn this word much later in your studies when you start reading newspapers.

At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more 'kanji' compounds. '助長' (jochou) is a word you might see in a simple news headline, but you don't need to use it in daily life yet. It means 'to help something bad grow.' For example, if you tell a lie, it might 'jochou' (foster) a misunderstanding. The important thing to know at A2 is that 'jochou' is NOT used for good things. You cannot say 'jochou my Japanese skills' because your skills are good! For good things, we use '伸びる' (nobiru) or '上手になる' (jouzu ni naru). '助長' is for problems. If you see this word, look for a negative word nearby, like '不安' (fuan - anxiety) or '問題' (mondai - problem). It is a 'suru' verb, so it becomes '助長する' (jochou suru).

At the B1 level, you should recognize '助長' (jochou) as a formal word for 'exacerbating' or 'promoting' a negative situation. It is common in JLPT N2 level materials. The key nuance here is the 'unintended' or 'harmful' growth. Think of the origin: a farmer pulling on rice plants to make them taller, but actually killing them. This is why we use it for things like 'discrimination' (差別 - sabetsu) or 'crime' (犯罪 - hanzai). When you use this word, you are often being critical. For example, 'The internet promotes (助長する) fake news.' You are saying the internet is doing something bad by helping fake news spread. At this level, try to distinguish it from '促進' (sokushin), which is the positive version of 'promote.' If you are promoting a sale, use '促進.' If you are promoting a bad habit, use '助長.'

At the B2 level, '助長' is an essential vocabulary item for reading editorials and watching the news. You should be able to use it in writing to describe social issues. The word implies that an external factor is providing the 'nourishment' for a negative trend to expand. It is often used with abstract nouns: '不安を助長する' (foster anxiety), '混乱を助長する' (promote confusion), '依存を助長する' (encourage dependency). You should also understand its causative and passive forms. For instance, 'SNSによって差別が助長されている' (Discrimination is being promoted by SNS). At this stage, you should also be aware of the historical 'Mencius' context, as it helps explain why the word has a negative connotation despite the 'help' (助) kanji. It’s a word about 'meddling' that leads to negative growth.

For C1 learners, '助長' (jochou) is a tool for precise socio-political and psychological analysis. You should understand its placement within a spectrum of similar terms like '煽る' (aoru - to incite), '拍車をかける' (hakusha o kakeru - to spur on), and '増長する' (zouchou suru - to grow arrogant). While 'aoru' suggests an active, emotional provocation, 'jochou' suggests a more structural or environmental fostering of a problem. You might use it in an academic essay to discuss how 'structural inequality 助長s social stratification.' It carries a weight of formal criticism and is often used to identify the root causes of systemic failures. You should also be comfortable using it in the noun form, such as '助長要因' (contributing/promoting factor) or '〜の助長につながる' (leads to the promotion of...).

At the C2 level, your mastery of '助長' (jochou) should include a deep understanding of its rhetorical power in formal debate and high-level literature. You can use it to dissect complex causal relationships where an action, however well-intentioned, leads to the exacerbation of a crisis. You should be able to appreciate the irony in its etymology (the Mencius story) and how that irony persists in modern usage to describe 'well-meaning' policies that backfire. Furthermore, you should be able to distinguish it from highly specific related terms like '蔓延' (man'en - spread of a disease/evil) or '助成' (josei - financial aid). In a C2 context, 'jochou' is often used to discuss the 'moral hazard' or the 'unintended consequences' of complex systems. Your usage should reflect an awareness of the word's gravity and its ability to frame a discussion around systemic responsibility.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

助長 in 30 Seconds

Jochou means to promote the growth of something, but specifically something negative like crime or anxiety.
It comes from a Chinese story about a farmer who killed his crops by pulling them to 'help' them grow.
It is a formal 'suru' verb used frequently in news, editorials, and academic writing to criticize bad trends.
Never use it for positive things like 'promoting health' or 'fostering talent'—use 'sokushin' or 'ikusei' instead.

The Japanese word 助長 (じょちょう - jochou) is a sophisticated noun and suru-verb that occupies a unique niche in the Japanese lexicon. At its most basic level, it translates to 'encouragement,' 'promotion,' or 'fostering.' However, unlike the English word 'encourage,' which often carries a positive connotation (e.g., encouraging a student), jochou is almost exclusively reserved for negative or undesirable phenomena. It describes the act of inadvertently or intentionally making a bad situation worse, or providing the conditions that allow a negative trend to flourish. To understand this word, one must look back at its classical roots in the Chinese text 'Mencius.' The original story involves a farmer who, impatient with the slow growth of his rice seedlings, decided to pull them up slightly to 'help' them grow taller. The next day, the seedlings had all withered and died. Thus, the etymological heart of jochou is the idea of 'meddling in a way that causes harm,' though in modern Japanese, it has shifted slightly to mean 'exacerbating' or 'contributing to the spread of' something bad.

Core Usage: Used when an external factor makes a negative emotion, a social problem, or a bad habit more intense or widespread. Common objects include anxiety (不安), confusion (混乱), discrimination (差別), and crime (犯罪).
Nuance of Intention: While it can describe intentional acts, it is frequently used to describe unintended consequences. For example, a sensationalist news report might '助長' (promote/exacerbate) public fear, even if the journalists didn't explicitly set out to cause a panic.
Grammatical Profile: It functions as a noun and as a suru-verb (助長する). It typically takes the particle 'を' to mark the thing being encouraged. Example: '差別を助長する' (to promote discrimination).

不確かな情報は社会の混乱を助長する恐れがある。
(Uncertain information risks promoting/exacerbating social confusion.)

In contemporary Japanese society, jochou is a staple of news broadcasts and editorial writing. You will hear it when analysts discuss how social media algorithms might '助長' polarization or how certain economic policies might '助長' the gap between the rich and the poor. It carries a certain weight of responsibility; to say someone is '助長ing' a problem is to level a serious critique against their actions or the systems they oversee. It is not just that the problem is growing; it is that something is actively feeding that growth. Because of its formal tone, it is less common in casual daily conversation (where one might use 'ひどくする' or 'あおる'), but it is essential for anyone aiming for JLPT N1 or N2 proficiency or anyone reading Japanese newspapers. Understanding the negative gravity of this word is the key to mastering its use.

その法案は格差を助長するとして批判されている。
(The bill is being criticized on the grounds that it promotes/exacerbates inequality.)

Collocations: Common pairings include: 不安を助長する (foster anxiety), 差別を助長する (promote discrimination), 依存を助長する (encourage dependency), and 犯罪を助長する (promote crime).

Using 助長 (じょちょう) correctly requires a firm grasp of both its grammatical structure and its inherent 'negativity bias.' As a suru-verb, it most commonly appears in the form '〜を助長する' (to promote ~). The object of this verb is almost always a noun representing a problem, a negative emotion, or a social ill. In formal writing, it can also appear as a noun modified by other words, such as '助長要因' (a factor that promotes/exacerbates something). When constructing sentences, it is helpful to think of the subject as a 'catalyst' or an 'environment' and the object as the 'negative outcome' that is being fed by that catalyst.

Sentence Pattern 1: A helps B (Negative) grow: [Subject] + が/は + [Negative Noun] + を助長する。
Example: 匿名性はネット上の誹謗中傷を助長する。(Anonymity promotes/encourages slander on the internet.)
Sentence Pattern 2: Passive/Criticism: [Subject] + は + [Negative Noun] + を助長するものだ。
Example: その発言は人種差別を助長するものだ。(That statement is something that promotes racial discrimination.)

過保護な親の態度は、子供の自立心の欠如を助長しかねない。
(The attitude of overprotective parents might promote a lack of independence in children.)

One of the most frequent contexts for jochou is in the realm of psychology and social behavior. If you are describing how a certain environment makes a person's anxiety worse, jochou is the perfect word. For instance, '周囲の過度な期待が、彼のプレッシャーを助長した' (The excessive expectations of those around him promoted/exacerbated his pressure). Notice how the 'pressure' is the negative element being fed. In this sense, the word functions similarly to 'exacerbate' or 'aggravate,' but specifically implies that something is providing 'nourishment' or 'support' for that negative growth.

In political discourse, jochou is often used in the passive or as a basis for criticism. '〜を助長する恐れがある' (There is a fear that it will promote...) is a common phrase used by opposition parties or activists when criticizing a new policy. For example, '新税制は富の偏在を助長する恐れがある' (The new tax system risks promoting the maldistribution of wealth). Here, the word highlights the systemic nature of the problem—it’s not just a one-time error, but a structural 'encouragement' of a bad trend. By using jochou, the speaker emphasizes that the policy is acting as a 'helper' for the wrong side.

暴力的なゲームが青少年の非行を助長するという科学的根拠は乏しい。
(There is little scientific evidence that violent games promote delinquency among youth.)

Common Verb Forms

助長する (Present/Future: Promotes)
助長した (Past: Promoted)
助長させる (Causative: To make something promote)
助長される (Passive: Is promoted)

If you turn on the NHK news or pick up a copy of the Asahi Shimbun, you are almost guaranteed to encounter 助長 (じょちょう) within the first few pages or segments. This word is a pillar of formal Japanese media, used to describe social trends, economic issues, and political controversies. It is the 'go-to' term for journalists when they need to describe a factor that is making a social problem worse. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese media frequently used jochou to describe how 'infodemics' (the spread of false information) were '助長ing' public anxiety and panic-buying. In this context, the word conveys a sense of societal concern and the need for systemic solutions.

In Legal and Academic Writing: You will find jochou in legal documents and academic papers, particularly in sociology and criminology. A paper might discuss how 'urban decay 助長s crime rates' or how 'certain educational structures 助長 competition among students' (where competition is viewed negatively as a source of stress).
In Business and Management: While business often focuses on positive growth, jochou appears when discussing internal problems. A manager might be warned that 'favoritism 助長s resentment among staff' (えこひいきは社員の不満を助長する). It is used to identify toxic elements within an organization.

SNSのアルゴリズムは、フェイクニュースの拡散を助長しているという指摘がある。
(It has been pointed out that SNS algorithms are promoting the spread of fake news.)

Another place you will frequently hear this word is in 'cautionary statements' or 'warnings.' Public service announcements might warn that 'leaving your bike unlocked 助長s theft' (自転車の無施錠は盗難を助長します). Here, the word serves as a deterrent, linking a specific behavior to a negative outcome. Because jochou sounds formal and authoritative, it carries more weight than simply saying 'it causes theft.' It implies that the behavior is 'feeding' the criminal environment. This usage is common in signage and official community guidelines.

Finally, jochou is a key term in discussions about human rights and ethics. When discussing hate speech or discriminatory behavior, activists and legal experts use jochou to explain how certain words or actions 'promote' a culture of exclusion. 'ヘイトスピーチは暴力を助長する' (Hate speech promotes violence) is a powerful and common sentence. In these contexts, the word is not just a descriptor but a call to action—if something is '助長ing' a social evil, it must be stopped. This ethical dimension is what makes jochou such a critical word for understanding modern Japanese social discourse.

メディアの偏向報道は、国民の対立を助長しかねない。
(Biased media reporting could potentially promote/exacerbate conflict among the citizens.)

Common Contexts

Social Problems (Inequality, Crime, Discrimination)
Psychological States (Anxiety, Stress, Dependency)
Information Flow (Rumors, Fake News, Misunderstanding)
Organizational Issues (Resentment, Corruption, Inefficiency)

The most common mistake English speakers (and even some native speakers) make with 助長 (じょちょう) is using it for positive growth. Because the kanji 助 means 'help' and 長 means 'grow' or 'long,' it is tempting to use it in sentences like 'I want to 助長 my child's talent.' However, in modern Japanese, this is a significant semantic error. Using jochou for something good is like saying you want to 'exacerbate' your child's talent—it implies the talent is a disease or a problem. Always remember: jochou is for things you want to *stop*, not things you want to *start*.

Mistake 1: Positive Contexts: Incorrect: 会社の発展を助長する (Promote the development of the company).
Correct: 会社の発展を促進する (Promote the development of the company).
Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Increase' (増やす): While jochou leads to an increase, it describes the *process* of fostering growth, not the act of adding more items. You don't '助長' the number of people in a room; you '助長' the *tension* among them.

× 彼の努力が成功を助長した。
○ 彼の努力が成功を導いた。
(His efforts led to success. Using 'jochou' here would sound like his success is a bad thing.)

Another subtle mistake is confusing jochou with sokushin (促進). While both mean 'promote,' sokushin is neutral or positive and is used for things like 'economic growth' or 'metabolism.' If you use jochou in a business meeting to describe a sales strategy, you might accidentally imply that the strategy is harmful. Similarly, don't confuse it with aoru (煽る - to fan/incite). Aoru is more active and emotional, often used for inciting a crowd or fanning the flames of anger. Jochou is more about creating the conditions that allow a problem to grow over time.

× 経済の活性化を助長する。
○ 経済の活性化を促進する。
(Promoting economic revitalization requires 'sokushin,' not 'jochou.')

Commonly Confused Terms

促進 (Sokushin): Neutral/Positive promotion.
奨励 (Shourei): Encouragement (usually for good behavior).
育成 (Ikusei): Nurturing (children, talent, plants).
煽る (Aoru): To incite or fan (more aggressive than jochou).

To truly master 助長 (じょちょう), it is helpful to compare it with its synonyms and alternatives. Depending on the formality and the specific nuance you want to convey, you might choose a different word. The closest synonym in terms of negative impact is akushika (悪化 - worsening), but akushika describes the state itself, whereas jochou describes the external factor causing the growth of that state. Another similar term is hakusha o kakeru (拍車をかける - to spur on), which means to accelerate a trend that is already in motion. While hakusha o kakeru can be neutral, it is often used for negative trends just like jochou.

Comparison: 助長 (Jochou) vs. 促進 (Sokushin): Jochou: Almost always negative. Used for social problems, anxiety, and bad habits. (e.g., 差別を助長する)
Sokushin: Neutral or positive. Used for development, efficiency, and physical processes. (e.g., 販売を促進する, 代謝を促進する)
Comparison: 助長 (Jochou) vs. 煽る (Aoru): Jochou: Implies fostering growth or providing an environment where a problem can expand. Sounds more formal and systemic.
Aoru: Implies actively inciting or provoking a reaction. Sounds more immediate and aggressive. (e.g., 不安を煽る is more like 'fear-mongering,' while 不安を助長する is 'creating conditions that increase anxiety')

彼の不注意な発言が、事態の悪化に拍車をかけた。
(His careless remark spurred on the worsening of the situation. This is a common alternative to 'jochou' when emphasizing speed.)

If you find jochou too formal for a casual conversation, you can use phrases like '〜の原因になる' (to become the cause of) or '〜をひどくする' (to make ~ worse). For example, instead of saying 'It 助長s the misunderstanding,' you could say 'It makes the misunderstanding deeper' (誤解を深める). However, in any professional or academic setting, jochou is the more precise and expected term. It signals that you understand the complex, often indirect ways that negative phenomena spread through a system. In the context of the JLPT, being able to distinguish jochou from sokushin is a classic test of high-level vocabulary knowledge.

政府の補助金が、結果として依存心を助長してしまった。
(The government subsidies resulted in fostering a sense of dependency. Here, 'jochou' highlights the unintended negative consequence.)

Summary of Alternatives

増長する (Zouchou suru): To grow insolent or arrogant (specifically for people/attitudes).
拍車をかける (Hakusha o kakeru): To accelerate/spur on.
煽る (Aoru): To fan/incite.
促進する (Sokushin suru): To promote (positive/neutral).
強める (Tsuyomeru): To strengthen (general).

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the original Mencius story, the farmer's son goes to check the crops and finds them all dead. This became a famous idiom across East Asia for 'ruining things by being over-eager.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dʒoʊ.tʃoʊ/

US /dʒoʊ.tʃoʊ/

Flat (Heiban style). Both syllables are pronounced with equal weight and a sustained pitch.

Rhymes With

表情 (hyoujou) 同情 (doujou) 工場 (koujou) 登場 (toujou) 屋上 (okujou) 症状 (shoujou) 情状 (joujou) 校長 (kouchou)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'jocho' (short vowels) instead of 'jochou' (long vowels).
Confusing the pitch with 'joushou' (increase/rising).
Hardening the 'j' sound too much like 'z'.
Pronouncing 'chou' like 'chow' (as in food).
Putting the stress only on the first syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

The kanji are common, but the specific negative nuance requires B2 level understanding.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of formal sentence structures and negative collocations.

Speaking 3/5

Used in formal speeches or debates, less so in daily casual talk.

Listening 4/5

Common in news broadcasts; easy to confuse with 'sokushin' if not careful.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

助ける (tasukeru) 成長 (seichou) 促進 (sokushin) 悪い (warui) 不安 (fuan)

Learn Next

蔓延 (man'en) 抑制 (yokusei) 懸念 (kenen) 是正 (zeisei) 弊害 (heigai)

Advanced

拍車をかける (hakusha o kakeru) 惹起する (jakki suru) 醸成する (jousei suru) 招く (maneku) 呈する (teisu)

Grammar to Know

Suru-verbs (Noun + する)

助長する、促進する、抑制する

〜かねない (Potential for negative outcome)

それは誤解を助長しかねない。

〜恐れがある (There is a risk/fear that...)

格差を助長する恐れがある。

〜につながる (Leads to...)

それが不満の助長につながる。

Passive Voice (〜される)

差別が助長されている。

Examples by Level

これはわるいことを助長します。

This promotes bad things.

Simple subject + object + verb.

うそはもんだいを助長する。

Lies promote problems.

Basic 'A wa B o' structure.

けんかはかなしみを助長する。

Fighting promotes sadness.

Abstract noun as object.

わるいしゅうかんを助長しないで。

Don't promote bad habits.

Negative command form (naide).

そのニュースはこわさを助長する。

That news promotes fear.

Simple noun 'kowasa' for fear.

むしすることは、いじめを助長する。

Ignoring (it) promotes bullying.

Gerund 'mushi suru koto' as subject.

さとうはむしばを助長する。

Sugar promotes cavities.

Concrete-to-abstract relationship.

あめはみちのわるさを助長した。

The rain promoted the badness of the road.

Past tense 'shita'.

不公平なルールは不満を助長する。

Unfair rules promote dissatisfaction.

Adjective 'fukouhei-na' modifying the noun.

テレビは人々の不安を助長している。

The TV is promoting people's anxiety.

Present progressive 'shite iru'.

甘いものは依存を助長しやすい。

Sweet things easily promote dependency.

Verb stem + 'yasui' (easy to).

その噂は誤解を助長した。

That rumor promoted a misunderstanding.

Simple past tense.

ゴミを捨てることは汚れを助長する。

Littering promotes dirtiness.

Nominalizing a verb with 'koto'.

沈黙は差別を助長することがある。

Silence can sometimes promote discrimination.

Potential phrase 'koto ga aru'.

暗いニュースは悲しみを助長させる。

Dark news makes sadness grow.

Causative form 'shisaseru'.

悪い友達は非行を助長する。

Bad friends promote delinquency.

Direct object 'hikou'.

過剰な広告は消費者の浪費を助長する。

Excessive advertising promotes consumer wastefulness.

Complex noun phrase 'shouhisha no rouhi'.

SNSの匿名性は誹謗中傷を助長しがちだ。

The anonymity of SNS tends to promote slander.

Suffix 'gachi' (tends to).

親の過保護は子供の無気力を助長する恐れがある。

Parental overprotection risks promoting lethargy in children.

Noun + 'osore ga aru' (there is a risk of).

偏見に満ちた報道は社会の分断を助長する。

Reporting full of prejudice promotes social division.

Phrase 'ni michita' (full of).

間違った情報の拡散はパニックを助長した。

The spread of wrong information promoted panic.

Noun 'kakusan' (spread) as the subject.

不潔な環境は病気の蔓延を助長する。

A dirty environment promotes the spread of disease.

Formal noun 'man'en' (spread/epidemic).

その映画は暴力を助長するという批判を受けた。

The movie received criticism for promoting violence.

Quoting clause 'to iu hihan'.

格差を助長するような政策には反対だ。

I am against policies that seem to promote inequality.

Phrase 'youna' (like/such as).

特定の団体への優遇措置は、不公平感を助長しかねない。

Preferential treatment for specific groups could potentially promote a sense of unfairness.

Auxiliary verb 'kananai' (might/could potentially).

歴史認識の相違が、両国間の緊張を助長している。

Differences in historical perception are promoting tension between the two countries.

Abstract noun 'soui' (difference/discrepancy).

アルゴリズムによる情報の偏りは、エコーチェンバー現象を助長する。

Information bias caused by algorithms promotes the echo chamber phenomenon.

Compound noun 'echo chamber genshou'.

過度な競争原理の導入は、学生のストレスを助長する結果となった。

The introduction of excessive competition principles resulted in fostering student stress.

Resultative phrase 'kekka to natta'.

管理職の無関心が、職場のハラスメントを助長していると言わざるを得ない。

One cannot help but say that the indifference of management is promoting workplace harassment.

Grammar 'to iwazaru o enai' (cannot help but say).

その発言は、ステレオタイプを助長する不適切なものだった。

That statement was inappropriate as it promoted stereotypes.

Adjective 'futekisetsu-na' (inappropriate).

安易な同情は、相手の甘えを助長することになりかねない。

Easy sympathy could potentially lead to promoting the other person's dependency/spoiled behavior.

Noun 'amae' (dependency/desire to be pampered).

法整備の遅れが、ネット犯罪の増加を助長している。

The delay in legislation is promoting the increase in cybercrime.

Noun 'houseibi' (legislation/legal framework).

権威主義的な政治体制は、腐敗と汚職を助長する土壌となりやすい。

Authoritarian political systems easily become a breeding ground that promotes corruption and graft.

Metaphorical use of 'dojou' (soil/breeding ground).

メディアによる過度な美化は、摂食障害を助長する一因と指摘されている。

Excessive beautification by the media is pointed out as a factor promoting eating disorders.

Noun 'ichiin' (one cause/factor).

その経済政策は、短期的には成長を促すが、長期的には格差を助長する懸念がある。

That economic policy encourages growth in the short term, but there are concerns it will promote inequality in the long term.

Contrast between 'unagasu' (encourage) and 'jochou' (exacerbate).

情報の非対称性が、市場の不透明感を助長している事実は否めない。

It cannot be denied that information asymmetry is promoting a sense of opacity in the market.

Double negative 'jitsuri wa inamenai' (cannot deny the fact).

教育格差の放置は、階層の固定化を助長し、社会の流動性を失わせる。

Neglecting educational disparities promotes the solidification of social classes and causes a loss of social mobility.

Causative form 'ushinawaseru'.

排他的なナショナリズムの台頭は、国際的な緊張を助長する危険性を孕んでいる。

The rise of exclusive nationalism harbors the danger of promoting international tension.

Literary verb 'haramu' (to be pregnant with/harbor).

依存症患者に対する安易な金銭的援助は、かえって症状を助長する結果を招く。

Providing easy financial aid to addicts leads to results that actually promote the symptoms.

Adverb 'kaette' (on the contrary).

この判決は、同様の違法行為を助長する悪しき前例となりかねない。

This ruling could potentially become a bad precedent that promotes similar illegal acts.

Noun 'zenrei' (precedent).

孟子の寓話が示す通り、自然の摂理に反する「助長」は、往々にして破滅を招く。

As shown in the Mencius parable, 'jochou' that goes against the providence of nature often invites ruin.

Reference to the etymological origin.

現代社会におけるポピュリズムの蔓延は、衆愚政治への傾倒を助長する危うさを秘めている。

The spread of populism in modern society hides the danger of promoting a leaning toward ochlocracy (mob rule).

Academic term 'shuugu seiji' (mobocracy).

アルゴリズムの不透明性が、認知バイアスを助長し、客観的な真実の探求を阻害している。

The opacity of algorithms promotes cognitive bias and hinders the search for objective truth.

Verb 'sogai suru' (to hinder/obstruct).

過度な市場原理主義は、公共性の解体を助長し、社会契約の基盤を揺るがしかねない。

Excessive market fundamentalism promotes the dismantling of publicness and could potentially shake the foundations of the social contract.

Abstract concept 'koukyousei' (publicness).

科学技術の進歩が、倫理的議論を置き去りにしたまま、人間性の喪失を助長する側面は否定できない。

One cannot deny the aspect where the progress of science and technology promotes the loss of humanity while leaving ethical debate behind.

Phrase 'okizari ni shita mama' (leaving behind).

言論の自由という美名の下で行われる誹謗中傷が、民主主義の根幹を腐食させ、憎悪を助長している。

Slander conducted under the fair name of freedom of speech is corroding the core of democracy and promoting hatred.

Metaphor 'konkan o fushoku saseru' (corrode the core).

自己責任論の強調は、弱者への無関心を助長し、社会保障制度の形骸化を加速させる。

The emphasis on the theory of self-responsibility promotes indifference toward the weak and accelerates the hollowing out of the social security system.

Noun 'keigaika' (becoming a mere shell/hollowing out).

グローバル経済における富の偏在は、南北問題を助長し、国際秩序の不安定化をもたらしている。

The maldistribution of wealth in the global economy promotes the North-South problem and brings about the destabilization of the international order.

Geopolitical term 'Nanboku mondai'.

Synonyms

促進奨励煽る深刻化

Antonyms

抑制防止

Common Collocations

不安を助長する

差別を助長する

混乱を助長する

犯罪を助長する

依存を助長する

格差を助長する

誤解を助長する

非行を助長する

不満を助長する

対立を助長する

Common Phrases

〜を助長しかねない

— Might potentially promote/exacerbate ~. Used for warnings.

その発言は誤解を助長しかねない。

助長要因

— A factor that promotes or exacerbates a problem.

ストレスは病気の助長要因となる。

〜の助長につながる

— Leads to the promotion of ~. Used for causal links.

情報の欠如はパニックの助長につながる。

差別助長

— The promotion of discrimination (often used as a compound noun).

差別助長につながる表現を避ける。

不安を助長させる

— To cause anxiety to grow (causative form).

メディアが国民の不安を助長させている。

犯罪を助長する行為

— An act that promotes crime.

偽造パスポートの作成は犯罪を助長する行為だ。

腐敗を助長する

— To foster/promote corruption.

不透明な資金の流れが腐敗を助長した。

依存心の助長

— The fostering of a dependent mindset.

過剰なサービスは依存心の助長を招く。

分断を助長する

— To promote division/polarization.

政治的な対立が国民の分断を助長している。

蔓延を助長する

— To promote the spread (of an epidemic or evil).

衛生状態の悪化が伝染病の蔓延を助長した。

Often Confused With

助長 vs 増長 (Zouchou)

Sounds almost identical. Zouchou is specifically for a person getting 'too big for their boots' or arrogant.

助長 vs 促進 (Sokushin)

Both mean 'promote,' but Sokushin is for positive/neutral things, Jochou is for negative.

助長 vs 助成 (Josei)

Means 'financial assistance.' Used for positive support, often from the government.

Idioms & Expressions

"苗を引いて助長する"

— To ruin something by trying to force its growth or help it too much. Derived from Mencius.

彼の指導は苗を引いて助長するようなもので、逆効果だ。

Literary/Historical

"火に油を注ぐ"

— To pour oil on a fire; to make a bad situation even worse (similar to jochou in result).

彼の言い訳は火に油を注ぎ、怒りを助長した。

General

"拍車をかける"

— To spur on; to accelerate a process that is already happening.

円安が物価高に拍車をかけ、国民の不安を助長している。

General

"藪をつついて蛇を出す"

— To poke a bush and let a snake out; to cause unnecessary trouble by meddling.

余計なことをして、混乱を助長してしまった。

General

"寝た子を起こす"

— To wake a sleeping child; to bring up a problem that was settled, making things worse.

過去の不祥事を掘り返すのは、混乱を助長するだけだ。

General

"泣き面に蜂"

— A bee on a crying face; one misfortune after another (the second misfortune 'jochou's' the misery).

失業した上に病気になるとは、悲しみを助長する出来事だ。

General

"飼い犬に手を噛まれる"

— To have one's hand bitten by one's own dog; to be betrayed by someone you helped (the help 'jochou'ed' their power).

甘やかした部下に裏切られ、不信感を助長した。

General

"ミイラ取りがミイラになる"

— The mummy hunter becomes a mummy; to end up following the very thing you tried to stop.

調査員が不正に手を染め、腐敗を助長した。

General

"角を矯めて牛を殺す"

— To kill the cow by trying to straighten its horns; to ruin something by trying to fix small defects.

細かい規則が、社員のやる気のなさを助長している。

Literary

"良薬は口に苦し"

— Good medicine tastes bitter; advice that is hard to take is often helpful (the opposite of jochou's 'harmful help').

厳しい忠告を無視したことが、失敗を助長した。

General

Easily Confused

助長 vs 促進 (Sokushin)

Both translate to 'promote' in English.

Sokushin is for good things (growth, health, sales). Jochou is for bad things (crime, anxiety).

健康を促進する (Promote health) vs. 犯罪を助長する (Promote crime).

助長 vs 煽る (Aoru)

Both involve making a negative feeling grow.

Aoru is active and emotional (like fanning a fire). Jochou is more systemic and environmental.

不安を煽る (To fan fear/fear-monger) vs. 不安を助長する (To create an environment where fear grows).

助長 vs 増長 (Zouchou)

They sound the same and both involve 'growing.'

Zouchou is about a person's character (arrogance). Jochou is about a situation or trend.

彼は最近、増長している (He has become arrogant lately).

助長 vs 助成 (Josei)

Both start with '助' (help).

Josei is specifically 'financial help' or 'subsidies' for good causes.

研究費を助成する (To provide a grant for research).

助長 vs 拍車をかける (Hakusha o kakeru)

Both describe a trend increasing.

Hakusha means 'to accelerate' (neutral/negative). Jochou means 'to foster/promote' (negative).

物価高に拍車をかける (To accelerate rising prices).

Sentence Patterns

[A] は [B] を助長する。

偏見は差別を助長する。

[A] は [B] を助長しかねない。

その発言は混乱を助長しかねない。

[A] が [B] の助長要因となっている。

不況が犯罪の助長要因となっている。

[B] が [A] によって助長されている。

不安がメディアによって助長されている。

[A] は [B] を助長するのみならず、[C] をも招く。

この政策は格差を助長するのみならず、社会不安をも招く。

[A] することは [B] を助長することになる。

黙っていることはいじめを助長することになる。

[A] を助長しないように注意する。

誤解を助長しないように注意する。

[A] が [B] の助長に拍車をかけている。

SNSが誹謗中傷の助長に拍車をかけている。

Word Family

Nouns

助長 (jochou) - promotion/exacerbation

助長要因 (jochou youin) - contributing factor

Verbs

助長する (jochou suru) - to promote/exacerbate

助長させる (jochou saseru) - to make something promote

助ける (tasukeru) - to help

育てる (sodateru) - to raise/nurture

伸ばす (nobasu) - to lengthen/extend

促進 (sokushin) - promotion (positive)

増長 (zouchou) - growing arrogant

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media, legal, and academic contexts. Rare in casual daily speech.

Common Mistakes

Using it for economic growth. → 経済成長を促進する。
Economic growth is positive, so use 'sokushin' (promote) instead of 'jochou'.
Using it to describe personal improvement. → スキルを伸ばす。
You don't 'jochou' your skills; you 'nobasu' (extend/improve) them.
Confusing it with 'zouchou' (arrogance). → 不満を助長する。
If you mean 'fostering dissatisfaction,' use 'jochou.' 'Zouchou' is for a person's ego.
Using it for physical height growth. → 背が伸びる。
'Jochou' is only for abstract growth, mostly negative. Height is 'nobiru'.
Saying '助長を助ける'. → 助長する。
'Jochou' already includes the meaning of 'help' (助), so '助長を助ける' is redundant.

Tips

Negative Only

Always check if the outcome is negative. If you use it for something positive, you will sound like you are complaining about that good thing.

Suru-Verb

Remember it's a suru-verb. You can say '助長する' (active), '助長される' (passive), or '助長させる' (causative).

News Staple

This is a key word for understanding NHK News. When you hear it, the reporter is identifying a cause of a social problem.

Think of the Sprouts

Recall the farmer pulling sprouts. This mental image helps you remember that 'jochou' is 'unnatural' or 'harmful' help.

Jochou vs Sokushin

Pair these two in your head: Jochou = Bad Promote, Sokushin = Good/Neutral Promote.

Abstract Nouns

Use it with words like 不安 (fuan), 混乱 (konran), 差別 (sabetsu), and 格差 (kakusa).

Formal Tone

It sounds very formal. In casual talk, 'ひどくする' (make worse) or 'あおる' (incite) are more common.

Critical Writing

It's a great word for essays where you need to criticize a policy or a social trend.

Vowel Length

Listen for the long 'ou' at the end. 'Jo-cho' is a common mistake for learners.

Joe-Chose

Joe Chose (Jo-Chou) to help the villain. Now the villain is stronger. That's jochou!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'JOe' 'CHOsing' to help a fire grow. Joe chose (jo-chou) to help the wrong thing!

Visual Association

A person pulling a small plant out of the ground by its leaves, thinking they are helping it get taller.

Word Web

Negative Growth Exacerbate Mencius Social Issues Anxiety Formal Suru-verb

Challenge

Try to find one news article today in Japanese that uses '助長'. Look for words like '不安' or '格差' near it.

Word Origin

Originally from the Chinese text 'Mencius' (Gong Sun Chou I). It refers to the story of a farmer from the state of Song who was worried his corn was not growing, so he pulled it up to 'help' it grow, only for it to wither.

Original meaning: To 'help' growth in a way that is unnatural and harmful.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use this word when trying to be supportive of someone's growth, as it will sound like you view their progress as a problem.

The closest English equivalent is 'exacerbate' or 'foster' (in a negative sense). While 'encourage' is usually positive, 'jochou' fills the gap for 'encouraging a bad thing.'

Mencius (Classical Chinese literature) Japanese news reports on 'SNS slander' Economic debates on the 'income gap' (kakusa shakai)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News Reporting

混乱を助長する
不安を助長する
差別を助長する
～の恐れがある

Political Debate

格差を助長する
分断を助長する
不公平を助長する
是正すべきだ

Psychology/Counseling

依存を助長する
ストレスを助長する
トラウマを助長する
環境を整える

Legal/Criminology

犯罪を助長する
非行を助長する
再発を助長する
防止策を講じる

Education

無気力を助長する
劣等感を助長する
競争を助長する
自主性を重んじる

Conversation Starters

"最近のSNSの使い方は、社会の分断を助長していると思いませんか？"

"テレビのニュースは、時として必要以上に不安を助長している気がします。"

"今の教育システムが、子供たちのストレスを助長しているという意見についてどう思いますか？"

"政府の新しい政策が、貧富の差を助長するのではないかと心配されていますね。"

"匿名での投稿は、ネット上の誹謗中傷を助長する大きな要因だと思います。"

Journal Prompts

自分の行動が、意図せず誰かの不安を助長してしまった経験はありますか？その時どう対処しましたか？

現代社会において、最も「助長」を食い止めるべき社会問題は何だと思いますか？その理由を書いてください。

「苗を引いて助長する」という言葉のように、良かれと思ってやったことが逆効果になったエピソードを教えてください。

メディアは真実を伝えるべきですが、それがパニックを助長する場合、どう報じるべきだと思いますか？

あなたが考える「格差を助長しない社会」とは、どのような社会ですか？具体的なアイデアを書いてください。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should not. Using '助長' implies that the growth is a bad thing. For a child's natural growth, use '成長' (seichou) or '育つ' (sodatsu). If you are talking about nurturing their talent, use '育成' (ikusei) or '伸ばす' (nobasu).

While very common for social problems (like discrimination or crime), it is also used for psychological states like '不安' (anxiety), 'ストレス' (stress), or '依存' (dependency). Essentially, if it's an abstract negative thing, you can use '助長'.

It comes from a story in 'Mencius' about a farmer who pulled his rice plants to help them grow, but they died. This is why the word has a negative nuance: it's about 'help' that actually causes harm or makes a bad situation worse.

It's not very common in casual speech between friends. However, it is extremely common in news, newspapers, books, and formal discussions. If you are watching Japanese TV or reading a paper, you will see it often.

Use '促進' (sokushin) for things like efficiency, growth, or metabolism. Use '奨励' (shourei) for encouraging behavior. Use '宣伝' (senden) for promoting a product.

Usually, no. It is used for abstract concepts like trends, feelings, or social issues. You wouldn't '助長' the number of cars on the road, but you might '助長' the traffic congestion (as an abstract problem).

The most common particle is 'を' (o) because it's a transitive suru-verb. For example: '不安を助長する' (promote anxiety).

They are related but different. '悪化' means a situation gets worse (The condition worsened). '助長' means something *else* made it grow or get worse (The news promoted the worsening condition).

It's rare and might be misunderstood. It's better to stick to the standard negative usage unless you are a very advanced speaker using it for a specific rhetorical effect.

Yes, it is typically considered an N1 or N2 level word. It is a high-frequency word in the reading and listening sections of those exams.