増す
ます · masu · JLPT N3 · verb-godan
to increase
🧱 Sounds like mass: when something masu, it gains mass. 増 = earth 土 + layers 曽
The kanji 増 pairs 土 (earth, soil) with 曽, a sign for stacked layers. Earth piled layer on layer keeps growing, so 増す means to increase. The sound hook helps too: masu ≈ mass, and adding mass is gaining.