Translation guide
How to express 'be promoted' in Japanese, covering job promotions, school grade advancement, and other contexts.
To be promoted to a higher position or rank at work.
The standard, neutral term for a job promotion. Used in both formal and casual settings.
彼は部長に昇進した。
He was promoted to department manager.
I hope I can get promoted this year.
Implies career advancement or success in life, often with a nuance of climbing the corporate ladder. Slightly more colloquial than 昇進する.
彼は若くして出世した。
He rose to success at a young age.
出世したいなら、努力が必要だ。
If you want to get ahead in your career, you need to work hard.
Often used for promotion in rank or grade within a structured system, such as a company hierarchy or professional certification.
彼女は主任に昇格した。
She was promoted to chief.
Literally 'one's position rises'. A more descriptive way to say someone got promoted, often used in casual conversation.
最近、役職が上がったんだって？
I heard you got promoted recently?
To move up to the next grade level in school.
The standard term for advancing to the next grade. Used for students from elementary through high school.
息子は来年、中学2年に進級します。
My son will be promoted to the 8th grade next year.
進級おめでとう！
Congratulations on moving up a grade!
Specifically means advancing to a higher level of education, such as from middle school to high school, or high school to university. Not used for grade promotion within the same school.
彼は高校に進学した。
He went on to high school.
To move up to a higher division or league in sports.
Used for teams moving up to a higher league or division. Also used in other hierarchical systems.
そのチームはJ1に昇格した。
The team was promoted to J1.
Can be used for promotion in rank within martial arts or other graded systems, but 昇格 is more common for sports leagues.
彼は黒帯に昇級した。
He was promoted to black belt.
To be elevated in status, title, or rank outside of a job context, such as in nobility, military, or organizations.
Can be used for military or organizational rank promotions as well.
彼は大佐に昇進した。
He was promoted to colonel.
Formal term for being appointed to a rank or title, often used in historical or ceremonial contexts (e.g., knighthood).
彼は騎士に叙任された。
He was promoted to knighthood.
昇進する focuses on the specific act of being promoted to a higher position. 出世する has a broader meaning of career success and advancement, often implying a series of promotions or overall rise in status.
彼は課長に昇進した。
He was promoted to section chief.
彼は若くして出世した。
He achieved career success at a young age.
The loanword プロモートする is mainly used for promoting products, events, or marketing campaigns, not for personnel promotions. Use 昇進する instead.
彼女は先月、マネージャーに昇進しました。
She was promoted to manager last month.
昇進したんだって？おめでとう！
I heard you got promoted! Congratulations!
私たちのチームは一部リーグに昇格しました。
Our team was promoted to the first division.