Translation guide
Describes vertical movement, fluctuations, or repeated ascent and descent. The best Japanese expression depends on whether you mean physical climbing/descending, something rising and falling repeatedly, or abstract changes in level.
Moving upward and downward on foot or by vehicle, such as climbing and descending stairs or a slope.
The most common way to say 'going up and down' for stairs, hills, or slopes. It combines 上り (ascent) and 下り (descent).
階段の上り下りはいい運動になる。
Going up and down stairs is good exercise.
坂道の上り下りが大変だった。
Going up and down the hill was tough.
Emphasizes the repetitive action of going up and down, often used for physical movement or fluctuating conditions.
山道を上がったり下がったりして疲れた。
I got tired going up and down the mountain path.
Same reading as 上り下り but uses 昇る (climb/ascend) instead of 上る. Slightly more literary or formal, often for climbing something tall.
山の昇り降りには十分な装備が必要だ。
Proper equipment is necessary for going up and down the mountain.
Describing something that fluctuates, such as stock prices, temperature, or waves.
The standard way to say 'going up and down' for fluctuating values, prices, or levels.
株価が上がったり下がったりしている。
Stock prices are going up and down.
気温が上がったり下がったりして体調を崩しやすい。
The temperature goes up and down, making it easy to get sick.
A noun meaning 'fluctuation' or 'change'. Often used in formal or technical contexts.
Literally 'up and down', used as a noun or suru-verb for vertical movement or fluctuation.
Referring to vertical transportation or movement inside a structure.
Works for elevators, escalators, or moving between floors.
エレベーターで上り下りする。
Go up and down by elevator.
Similar to 上り下り but uses 上がる (rise) instead of 上る. Slightly more casual.
Describing something that moves up and down on a surface, like a boat on waves.
Literally 'sway up and down'. Used for boats, floating objects, or anything bobbing.
ボートが波で上下に揺れた。
The boat bobbed up and down on the waves.
Literally 'floating and sinking', used for bobbing motion or metaphorically for ups and downs in life.
浮き沈みの激しい人生だった。
It was a life of many ups and downs.
上り下り (のぼりおり) is a noun phrase for the general action of ascending and descending, often used for stairs or slopes. 上がったり下がったり (あがったりさがったり) is a verbal phrase emphasizing repeated fluctuation, more common for prices, temperatures, or continuous movement.
毎日の階段の上り下りが健康に良い。
Daily going up and down stairs is good for your health.
最近気温が上がったり下がったりしている。
The temperature has been going up and down lately.
為替レートの変動が激しい。
Exchange rate fluctuations are intense.
Prices go up and down sharply.
階段の上がり下りが面倒だ。
Going up and down the stairs is a hassle.