Translation guide
The English verb 'intensify' means to become or make something stronger, more extreme, or more severe. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; the best choice depends on what is intensifying and whether it is a natural process or a deliberate action.
Describing a situation, feeling, or natural phenomenon that increases in strength or severity on its own.
General intransitive verb for something becoming stronger or more intense, such as wind, rain, feelings, or trends.
Common phrase for something becoming violent, fierce, or severe, often used for weather, emotions, or conflicts.
雨が激しくなった。
The rain intensified.
議論が激しくなった。
The argument intensified.
Intransitive verb for something deepening or intensifying in degree, often used for relationships, understanding, or seasons.
秋が深まってきた。
Autumn has intensified (deepened).
二人の絆が深まった。
Their bond intensified (deepened).
Intransitive verb for something increasing in degree or quantity, often used for abstract qualities like pressure or importance.
重要性が増している。
The importance is intensifying.
プレッシャーが増す。
The pressure intensifies.
Intransitive verb for something rising or building up, often used for expectations, tension, or awareness.
期待が高まる。
Expectations intensify.
Describing a deliberate action to increase the strength, severity, or degree of something.
General transitive verb for making something stronger or more intense, such as efforts, control, or a flavor.
Phrase for making something violent or fierce, often used for actions or conflicts.
攻撃を激しくする。
Intensify the attack.
Transitive verb for deepening or intensifying something like understanding, relationships, or knowledge.
Formal transitive verb for causing something to increase greatly, often used in technical or business contexts.
リスクを増大させる。
Intensify the risk.
Expressing that a feeling or quality becomes stronger, often using adverbs or adverbial phrases.
Adverb meaning 'more and more' or 'increasingly', used to show gradual intensification.
ますます難しくなる。
It intensifies (becomes increasingly difficult).
彼はますます有名になった。
He became increasingly famous.
Adverb meaning 'even more' or 'a notch higher', implying a noticeable jump in intensity.
寒さが一段と厳しくなった。
The cold intensified even more.
Adverb meaning 'further' or 'even more', often used in formal or written contexts.
問題はさらに複雑化した。
The problem intensified (became even more complex).
強まる (intransitive) is used when something intensifies on its own, while 強める (transitive) is used when someone or something causes the intensification. Compare: 風が強まる (The wind intensifies) vs. 風の抵抗を強める (Intensify wind resistance).
The English verb 'intensify' is often used with a wide range of objects. In Japanese, you must choose a verb that matches the specific noun. For example, 'intensify pain' is 痛みが強まる (itami ga tsuyomaru), not a direct translation of 'intensify'.
理解を深める。
Intensify (deepen) understanding.