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.
The price went up.
Go up the stairs.
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
All can mean 'go up', but usage differs. 上がる is the most general. 登る is for climbing with effort (mountains, trees). 上る is for going up slopes, stairs, rivers. 昇る is for ascending into the air or to a higher floor (sun, elevator).
Climb a mountain.
The temperature went up.
山に登る。
Go up a mountain.
Climb a tree.
坂を上る。
Go up a hill.
Go up a river.
The sun goes up.
Go up by elevator.
Prices go up.
Voices go up (get louder).
To increase in number or quantity. Not for height or position.
The population goes up.
Formal/technical term for rise, increase (stock prices, temperature).
Stock prices go up.
To approach, go up to. General verb for moving closer.
I went up to him.
To walk up to someone, often with a nuance of reconciliation or compromise.
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.
A sign went up.
To go up in flames, blaze up.
The house went up in flames.
To go up in smoke, vanish like smoke.
The plan went up in smoke.
階段を上る。
Go up the stairs.
The sun rises.
Be careful with transitive and intransitive verbs. 上がる (intransitive) vs. 上げる (transitive, to raise something). 建つ (intransitive) vs. 建てる (transitive, to build).
The price goes up.
Raise the price.