Translation guide
The English word 'raising' covers many actions: lifting something up, increasing an amount or level, bringing up children or animals, and introducing a topic. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
To move something to a higher position, such as raising your hand, a flag, or an object.
The most common verb for lifting or raising something. Transitive.
手を上げてください。
Please raise your hand.
彼は旗を上げた。
He raised the flag.
To lift something up, emphasizing the action of picking it up. Often used for heavy objects.
この箱を持ち上げられますか？
Can you lift this box?
To raise or hoist something high, often a flag, banner, or ideal. More formal or literary.
国旗を掲げる。
To raise the national flag.
To make something greater in number, intensity, or quality, such as raising prices, volume, or standards.
General verb for increasing or raising something. Transitive.
値段を上げる。
To raise the price.
声を上げないでください。
Please don't raise your voice.
To heighten or enhance something abstract, like awareness, quality, or motivation.
To raise or pull up, often used for prices, wages, or standards. Implies a deliberate upward adjustment.
To increase in number or quantity. Not for abstract levels, but for countable things.
To care for and educate a child, or to breed and nurture animals.
General verb for raising children, animals, or plants. Emphasizes nurturing and development.
子供を育てるのは大変だ。
Raising children is tough.
彼女は犬を育てている。
She is raising a dog.
To support or provide for a family, often financially. Can also mean to cultivate a habit or skill.
To breed or keep animals, often in a controlled environment like a farm or laboratory.
牛を飼育する。
To raise cattle.
To bring up a subject for discussion or consideration.
To bring up a topic, often in a conversation or meeting.
会議で新しい提案を持ち出した。
He raised a new proposal at the meeting.
To raise a question or issue formally, often in academic or official contexts.
問題を提起する。
To raise a question.
To make something a topic of conversation; to bring up as a subject.
彼はよく政治を話題にする。
He often raises political topics.
To gather money, resources, or backing for a cause or project.
To construct or put up something like a building or monument.
上げる is a general verb for raising something concrete or abstract (e.g., hand, price, voice). 高める is used specifically for enhancing abstract qualities like awareness, quality, or motivation. Use 上げる for physical lifting and simple increases; use 高める when you want to emphasize improvement or heightening of an intangible attribute.
While 上げる can mean 'to raise' in many contexts, it is not used for raising children or animals. Use 育てる instead. Saying 子供を上げる would be incorrect and confusing.
子供を育てる。
To raise children.
意識を高める。
To raise awareness.
品質を高める努力。
Efforts to raise quality.
最低賃金を引き上げる。
To raise the minimum wage.
To raise production volume.
家族を養うために働く。
To work to raise a family.
To raise donations.