Translation guide
The concept of raising and lowering objects, body parts, or abstract things like volume, prices, or status. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being moved and whether the action is transitive or intransitive.
To physically lift something up or bring it down.
Transitive verb meaning to raise or lift something. Used for objects, hands, flags, etc.
手を上げてください。
Please raise your hand.
彼は箱を棚に上げた。
He lifted the box onto the shelf.
Transitive verb meaning to lower or bring down something. The counterpart of 上げる.
荷物を下げてください。
Please lower the luggage.
彼は旗を下げた。
He lowered the flag.
To lift up and hold something. Emphasizes the action of lifting.
この箱を持ち上げられますか？
Can you lift this box?
To take down or lower something from a higher place, like unloading cargo or lowering a blind.
荷物を車から降ろしてください。
Please unload the luggage from the car.
To move your own body parts up or down.
Used for raising hands, legs, head, etc.
質問がある人は手を上げてください。
If you have a question, please raise your hand.
Used for lowering hands, head, etc.
To lift a body part, often with effort or deliberately.
To increase or decrease something like volume, temperature, prices, or social status.
Transitive verb for raising abstract levels: volume, temperature, prices, etc.
音量を上げてください。
Please turn up the volume.
政府は税金を上げるかもしれない。
The government may raise taxes.
Transitive verb for lowering abstract levels.
Intransitive verb meaning something rises or goes up by itself. Used for temperature, prices, status, etc.
Intransitive verb meaning something falls or goes down by itself.
To promote or demote someone, or to rise or fall in rank.
To promote someone (transitive).
会社は彼を部長に昇進させた。
The company promoted him to department manager.
To demote someone (transitive).
上司は彼を降格させた。
The boss demoted him.
To be promoted (intransitive).
彼は課長に昇進した。
He was promoted to section chief.
To be demoted (intransitive).
彼は平社員に降格した。
He was demoted to a regular employee.
To hoist or lower a flag, sail, or similar object.
To hoist or raise a flag, banner, or sail. Often used in formal contexts.
彼らは国旗を掲げた。
They raised the national flag.
To lower a flag or sail.
Many raising/lowering verbs come in transitive-intransitive pairs. Transitive verbs (上げる, 下げる) take a direct object marked by を. Intransitive verbs (上がる, 下がる) describe something moving on its own and use が. Choose the correct one based on whether someone is acting on something or it is happening by itself.
When talking about raising or lowering a person's status, use specific verbs like 昇進させる/降格させる. Using 上げる/下げる for people can sound like physically lifting or dropping them.
You can put your hand down.
彼は重い足を持ち上げた。
He lifted his heavy leg.
Please turn down the volume.
店は価格を下げた。
The store lowered the prices.
The temperature rose.
物価が上がっている。
Prices are rising.
The temperature dropped.
売り上げが下がっている。
Sales are declining.
They lower the flag in the evening.