改善する
かいぜんする·kaizen suru
Meaning
to improve; to make better; to reform; to ameliorate
Nuance & Usage
改善する means to improve something by addressing its problems or inefficiencies. It is one of Japan's most globally recognized management concepts — 改善 (kaizen) became a business philosophy adopted worldwide, referring to continuous incremental improvement. 業務を改善する (to improve business operations), 生活習慣を改善する (to improve lifestyle habits), 改善点 (kaizeneten — points for improvement) are typical uses. 改善案 (kaizen-an — improvement proposal) is a common term in workplace settings. Unlike 進歩する (to advance/progress), 改善 focuses on fixing what's wrong.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 改善する with 向上する (koujou suru — to improve/enhance, often for skill levels) and 改良する (kairyou suru — to improve by modification, often for products/designs). 改善する is broader and implies corrective improvement. 改善が必要 (improvement is needed) and 改善の余地がある (there is room for improvement) are useful set phrases. 改善 takes を: 問題点を改善する (to improve problem areas). Don't confuse with 快善 (not a real word — 改 means reform, not 快 pleasant).
Example Sentences (3)
残業を減らすために、業務プロセスを改善する必要がある。
ざんぎょうをへらすために、ぎょうむぷろせすをかいぜんするひつようがある。
To reduce overtime, we need to improve our work processes.
食生活を改善したら、体の調子がよくなった。
しょくせいかつをかいぜんしたら、からだのちょうしがよくなった。
After improving my diet, I started feeling physically better.
アンケート結果を分析して、サービスの改善に役立てます。
あんけーとけっかをぶんせきして、さーびすのかいぜんにやくだてます。
We will analyze the survey results and use them to improve our services.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
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