noun, takes する, intransitive verb

  1. development, growth, expansion, extension, flourishing.
  2. development (of a situation, story, etc.), advancement, progression, unfolding.
  3. playing around (sexually; esp. of a male homosexual), having an active sex life.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
発展 はってん

Contained Kanji Breakdown

departure, discharge, publish
ハツ ホツ た.つ (3rd, N4)
dotted tent radical (no. 105)
ハツ (Kentei 1)
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ ふた ふだ (1st, N5)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン ニン がい (Kentei 1)
unfold, expand
テン のぶ のり (6th, N1)
corpse, remains, flag radical (no. 44)
シ かたしろ (Kentei 1)
twenty, twenty or letter H radical (no. 55)
キョウ ク にじゅう (Kentei 1)
garment, clothes, dressing
イ ころも きぬ (4th, N2)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
garment(衣) variant