1.
to inflate; to swell; to puff up; to expand
To cause something to increase in size by filling it with air or gas, or to make something expand or swell.
風船を膨らます。
I inflate a balloon.
頬を膨らませて怒った。
She puffed out her cheeks in anger.
想像を膨らませて物語を書いた。
I wrote a story by letting my imagination run wild.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: Transitive (他動詞)
- Pair: 膨らむ (intransitive - to swell)
- Pattern: Xを膨らます
ASPECT:
- 膨らませている = inflating (ongoing action)
FIGURATIVE USE:
- 想像を膨らませる (to let one's imagination grow)
- 期待を膨らませる (to raise one's expectations)