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ますます Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Meanings 1
adverb
more and more ; increasingly ; less and less
usually written using kana alone
Indicates a continuing trend, either increasing or decreasing depending on context. Often used with adjectives, verbs, or adverbs to show a gradual change.
彼かれ
の
日本にほん
語ご
は
ますます
上手じょうず
に
なっ
て
いる
。
His Japanese is getting better and better.
Written forms ますます Usage 94%
Usually written in kana; this is the most common and recommended spelling.
益ます 々ます Usage 5%
Kanji spelling using 益; less common but still encountered.
益ますます Usage 1%
Single-kanji abbreviation; rare and mostly seen in older or compact writing.
増ます 々ます Usage <1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
マスマス Usage <1%
増ま す 増ま す
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Similar words いよいよ いよいよ emphasizes a long-awaited or climactic moment, while ますます focuses on a gradual, ongoing increase or decrease.
どんどん どんどん suggests rapid, energetic progression, often with a sense of momentum, whereas ますます is more neutral and steady.
Etymology Reduplication of the verb 増す (ます, 'to increase'), yielding an adverbial form meaning 'increasingly'. The kanji 益 (benefit, increase) is often used for its meaning, but the word is now predominantly written in kana.
