increase

Compared meaning: an increase in amount or degree (noun).

比较义项：增加（名词）。

• increase 本词

  A neutral, general word for a rise in any amount or number, used for prices, population, temperature, and more; does not imply effort or benefit.

  中性、通用的词，指任何数量或数字的上升，可用于价格、人口、气温等，不暗示努力或好处。

  There has been a sharp increase in the price of coffee this year.

  今年咖啡的价格出现了大幅增加。

• gain

  Emphasizes an increase acquired through effort, exercise, or a process, often positive, and typically used with 'in' before the thing gained.

  强调通过努力、锻炼或某个过程而获得的增加，通常带有积极色彩，常与 in 搭配，表示在某方面的增加。

  She noticed a real gain in muscle strength after months of training.

  经过几个月的训练，她明显感觉到肌肉力量有所增加。

Increase and gain both mean a rise in amount, but increase is neutral, used for any rising number like prices or population. Gain stresses an increase won through effort, often positive, and usually followed by 'in'. Only the noun sense is compared here.

两词都可表示“数量或程度的增加”，但 increase 是中性、通用的说法，可用于价格、人口、气温等任何上升的数值；gain 则强调通过努力或某个过程“获得”的增加，常带积极色彩，多与 in 搭配（a gain in strength）。increase 和 gain 也都能作动词，但这里只比较名词义项。

Compared meaning: a rise in amount or level (noun).

比较义项：增长／增加（数量、程度的上升）（名词）。

• growth

  Growth suggests a gradual, ongoing process of becoming larger, typically used for long-term development such as economies, populations, or businesses, rather than a one-off numerical change.

  growth 强调持续、渐进的发展过程，常用于经济、人口、企业等长期增长的语境，而不是用来描述一次性的具体数字变化。

  The country's economic growth has slowed in recent years.

  近年来，该国的经济增长有所放缓。

• increase 本词

  Increase is a neutral, general word for any rise in amount, number, or level, whether sudden or gradual, and is the natural choice for prices, statistics, or counts.

  increase 是中性、通用的词，指数量、数字或程度的任何上升，无论是突然还是渐进的，常用于价格、统计数字等具体数量。

  There was a sharp increase in the price of oil last month.

  上个月石油价格出现了大幅上涨。

Both mean 'a rise in amount'. Growth suggests a gradual process of becoming larger, used for things like economies or populations. Increase is a neutral word for any rise, sudden or slow, for prices. Not covered: growth meaning 'a tumor', increase used as a verb.

这两个词都可表示数量或程度的上升，容易被中国学习者混淆，但语气和适用范围不同：growth 强调持续、有机的发展过程，increase 是中性、通用的说法，变化可大可小、可突然也可渐进。这里不比较 growth 表示肿瘤的义项，也不比较 increase 作动词表示增加的用法。