Translation guide
The English phrase 'go up' covers physical upward movement, increases in numbers or levels, and idiomatic uses. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is going up and the context.
To move to a higher place (climb, ascend, rise)
General verb for going up, rising, or climbing. Used for people, objects, and abstract things like status.
To climb (a mountain, tree, ladder). Emphasizes the action of ascending something steep or tall.
To go up, ascend (stairs, a slope, a river). Often interchangeable with 登る but more general; 登る is preferred for climbing with effort.
To ascend (the sky, sun, elevator). Used for rising into the air or to a higher floor.
To become higher in amount, degree, or volume
Used for prices, temperature, volume, status, etc. Intransitive.
To go up to someone or something
To be built or put up (building, sign, tent)
To be built, erected (building, structure). Intransitive.
To be destroyed by fire or disappear
Go up a mountain.
木に登る。
Climb a tree.
Go up a hill.
川を上る。
Go up a river.
The sun goes up.
エレベーターで昇る。
Go up by elevator.
物価が上がる。
Prices go up.
声が上がる。
Voices go up (get louder).
To increase in number or quantity. Not for height or position.
人口が増える。
The population goes up.
Formal/technical term for rise, increase (stock prices, temperature).
株価が上昇する。
Stock prices go up.
To approach, go up to. General verb for moving closer.
彼に近づいた。
I went up to him.
To walk up to someone, often with a nuance of reconciliation or compromise.
彼女に歩み寄った。
I went up to her (to make peace).
新しいビルが建った。
A new building went up.
To stand, be put up (sign, flag, tent). Intransitive.
看板が立った。
A sign went up.
To go up in flames, blaze up.
家が燃え上がった。
The house went up in flames.
To go up in smoke, vanish like smoke.
計画は煙のように消えた。
The plan went up in smoke.
太陽が昇る。
The sun rises.