Translation guide
The English verb 'climb' covers moving upward (mountains, stairs, ladders), rising in value or rank, and getting into or out of vehicles. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is climbed, how, and why.
To go up a natural elevation, often for recreation or challenge.
climb a mountain · climb a hill · go climbing
General verb for climbing a mountain, hill, or slope. The most common choice for hiking and mountaineering.
I want to climb Mt. Fuji.
He climbs a mountain every weekend.
Literally 'mountain climbing', used for serious hiking or mountaineering as an activity.
I plan to go mountain climbing this weekend.
To clamber or scramble up, often using hands and feet on steep or rocky terrain.
We scrambled up the steep rocky slope.
To move upward on a man-made structure or steep route.
climb the stairs · climb a ladder · climb up to the roof
Used for ascending stairs, ladders, slopes, or going up to a higher place. Often interchangeable with 登る but preferred for non-mountain contexts.
Please climb the stairs.
Climb a ladder.
Intransitive verb meaning to go up, rise, or ascend. Can be used for climbing stairs or a hill, but focuses on the upward movement rather than the act of climbing.
To rise in number, price, temperature, rank, etc.
prices climb · temperature climbs · climb the ranks
Intransitive verb for things rising by themselves (prices, temperature, status).
The temperature climbed.
Prices are climbing.
Formal term for a rise or climb in figures, rates, or levels.
Stock prices climbed.
Literally 'become high', a simple way to say something climbs in height or level.
The temperature climbed.
To enter or exit a vehicle, often involving a step up or down.
climb into the car · climb out of the truck · climb aboard
To get on/into a vehicle. For cars, buses, trains, bicycles, etc. Does not imply climbing in the physical sense, but is the natural translation for 'climb into a car'.
Climb into the car.
Please climb aboard the bus.
To get off/out of a vehicle. Used for 'climb out of a car'.
To board or get into, often with a sense of stepping up into a vehicle. More vivid than 乗る.
To get over a barrier, fence, wall, etc.
climb over a fence · climb over a wall
To ascend something vertical using hands and feet or equipment.
climb a tree · climb a rope · climb a pole
To get into or out of a bed, bathtub, or other enclosed area, often with a sense of crawling or stepping.
climb into bed · climb out of the bath
To enter; used for climbing into bed, a bath, etc. Natural Japanese does not use a 'climbing' verb here.
To exit; used for climbing out of bed, a bath, etc.
To slip or crawl into, often under covers or into a tight space. Adds a nuance of snuggling or hiding.
To advance in status, rank, or career.
climb the corporate ladder · climb the ranks
To succeed in one's career, rise in the world. The standard term for climbing the corporate ladder.
He climbed the ladder quickly.
To climb up by one's own efforts, often from a low position. Can imply aggressive ambition.
To be promoted. More formal and specific to rank advancement.
He climbed to the position of department manager.
登る is for climbing mountains, trees, or anything requiring effort. 上る is for going up stairs, slopes, or to a higher place. 上がる is intransitive and means 'to rise' or 'go up', often used for things moving upward on their own or for entering a house (家に上がる). For climbing stairs, both 階段を上る and 階段を上がる are common, but 上る focuses on the action of climbing, while 上がる focuses on the result of reaching a higher level.
English 'climb into a car' is not translated with 登る. Use 乗る (のる) for getting into vehicles. 登る would imply physically climbing on top of the car.
For plants that climb (ivy, vines), use 這う (はう, to creep) or 絡まる (からまる, to twine) rather than 登る. Example: ツタが壁を這っている (The ivy is climbing the wall).
The stock market climbed steadily.
She climbed the stairs to the third floor.
He climbed out of the wrecked car.
這い出る (はいでる) means to crawl out, often used when climbing out with difficulty.
Go up the stairs.
Climb out of the car.
トラックに乗り込んだ。
He climbed into the truck.
He climbed over the wall and escaped.
Clamber up a pole.
Climb out of bed.
I climbed under the futon.
He climbed from a regular employee to company president.