手早い答え
aumentar は増加を表し他動詞にもなり、crescer は成長を過程として捉えます。
確実な見分け方は、英語から訳す前に、その単語の働きを見きわめることです。
それぞれの単語の働き
aumentar
to increase or enlarge
Use aumentar for making or becoming greater in number, price, volume, intensity, or size.
crescer
to grow
Use crescer for natural development in size, age, economy, skill, or importance.
選び方
- aumentar: Choose aumentar if the sentence points to making or becoming greater in number, price, volume, intensity, or size.
- crescer: Choose crescer if the sentence points to natural development in size, age, economy, skill, or importance.
例文
A loja aumentou os preços.
The store increased its prices.
A cidade cresceu muito.
The city grew a lot.
よくある落とし穴
The store can aumentar os preços, but the prices themselves aumentam. Crescer normally does not take the thing grown as a direct object.
文脈の中で練習する
自分の実生活から文を一つ選び、二回書いてみましょう。一度はaumentarで、もう一度はcrescerで。どちらも成り立ちそうなら、意味の違いを言葉にしてみましょう。