to grow / to wax
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to grow
To increase in size, height, or extent. Refers to living things such as people, animals, and plants.
Die Tomaten in unserem Garten wachsen dieses Jahr besonders gut.
The tomatoes in our garden are growing especially well this year.
to grow
To increase in number, amount, intensity, or importance.
Die Zahl der Internetnutzer wächst weltweit von Jahr zu Jahr.
The number of internet users is growing worldwide from year to year.
to wax
To treat a surface, especially skis or floors, with wax in order to protect it or make it glide better.
Vor dem Skiurlaub müssen wir unbedingt noch unsere Skier wachsen lassen.
Before the ski vacation, we absolutely still need to have our skis waxed.
to be up to
To be able to handle a difficult task, a challenge, or an opponent.
Er fühlte sich dem Druck und der Verantwortung seiner neuen Position nicht gewachsen.
He did not feel up to the pressure and responsibility of his new position.
There are two verbs 'wachsen'. The strong verb means 'to get bigger' (er wächst, er wuchs, er ist gewachsen). The weak verb means 'to treat with wax' (er wachst, er wachste, er hat gewachst). You can recognize the difference from the conjugation and the auxiliary verb.
Der Baum ist schnell gewachsen.
The tree grew quickly.
In the meanings 'to get bigger' or 'to increase', 'wachsen' always forms the perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein'. This is because it describes a change of state or movement.
Meine Kinder sind im letzten Jahr so viel gewachsen!
My children grew so much last year!
The expression 'einer Sache gewachsen sein' means that one can handle a challenge. The thing or person that one is up to is always in the dative.
Ich bin dieser Aufgabe voll und ganz gewachsen.
I am fully up to this task.
When 'wachsen' describes an increase, it is often used with abstract nouns. Typical combinations are 'die Wirtschaft wächst' (the economy is growing), 'die Sorge wächst' (concern is growing), 'das Interesse wächst' (interest is growing), or 'der Druck wächst' (pressure is growing).
Mit jedem Tag wuchs ihre Hoffnung, ihn wiederzusehen.
With each day, her hope of seeing him again grew.
to rise / climb
“Steigen” neutrally describes a measurable value or level becoming higher. “Wachsen” more often describes a gradual increase in quantity, importance, or scope, but it can also be used with numbers. “Steigen” often fits a single measurable change, while “wachsen” is more suitable for an increase that develops over time.
Die Zahl der Besucher wächst seit dem Start des Festivals stetig.
The number of visitors has been growing steadily since the festival began.
Die Zahl der Besucher steigt in diesem Monat auf 10 000.
The number of visitors is rising to 10,000 this month.
