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.
太陽が昇る。
The sun goes up.
エレベーターで昇る。
Go up by elevator.
To become higher in amount, degree, or volume
To go up to someone or something
To be built or put up (building, sign, tent)
To be built, erected (building, structure). Intransitive.
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 be destroyed by fire or disappear
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.
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).
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 population goes up.
彼女に歩み寄った。
I went up to her (to make peace).