Translation guide
The English word 'up' has many meanings and uses. This guide focuses on the most common ones for English-speaking learners of Japanese, organized by practical meaning.
Expressing movement or direction toward a higher place.
Noun meaning 'above' or 'up'. Used to indicate a higher position.
The book is on the desk (up on the desk).
Intransitive verb meaning 'to go up', 'to rise'. Used for moving upward.
Transitive verb meaning 'to raise', 'to lift up'. Used when someone moves something upward.
Noun/verb meaning 'rise', 'ascent'. More formal, often used for prices, temperatures, etc.
Expressing an increase in amount, degree, or intensity.
Intransitive verb for something increasing (e.g., prices, temperature).
Expressing that an action is finished or completed, often with a sense of finality.
Verb ending indicating completion, often with a nuance of regret or doing something thoroughly. '〜ちゃう' is casual.
Expressing the action of rising from sleep or from a lying/sitting position.
Verb meaning 'to get up', 'to wake up'. Used for rising from bed or standing up.
Expressing that someone or something is approaching or arriving.
Expressing the state of being awake and not in bed.
Expressing reaching a certain level, standard, or limit.
Particle meaning 'up to', 'until'. Indicates a limit in space, time, or quantity.
Please come up to here.
Common English phrasal verbs with 'up' and their Japanese equivalents.
English uses 'up' in many phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions that do not translate directly to Japanese with 上 or 上がる. Always consider the meaning of the whole phrase.
to hang up the phone
上がる is intransitive (something goes up by itself), while 上げる is transitive (someone raises something).
Please go up the stairs.
Please raise your hand (put your hand up).
気温が上昇した。
The temperature went up.
Prices are going up.
Transitive verb for raising something (e.g., volume, salary).
Please turn up the volume.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to increase' in number or quantity.
The population went up.
Transitive verb meaning 'to increase' something.
I want to build up my savings.
I finished up my homework.
I ate it all up.
Attached to verb stem to mean 'finish doing'. More neutral than 〜てしまう.
I finished writing up the report.
Attached to verb stem to mean 'do completely', 'do to the end'. Emphasizes thoroughness.
I used up all the money.
I get up at 6 every morning.
Phrase meaning 'to wake up' (literally 'to awaken one's eyes'). Focuses on the moment of waking.
I woke up from a loud noise.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to approach', 'to come near'.
The deadline is coming up.
Phrase meaning 'to come along', 'to turn up'. Often used for people or events.
He turned up suddenly.
3人まで入れます。
Up to three people can enter.
Formal pattern meaning 'it depends on', 'it is up to'. Used to express that something is contingent.
Success is up to your effort.
For 'give up', meaning to stop trying.
Don't give up on your dreams.
For 'clean up' or 'tidy up'.
Clean up your room.
For 'give up', meaning to surrender or stop trying.
He gave up smoking.
For 'show up' or 'turn up', meaning to appear.
He didn't show up to the party.
For 'give up', meaning to stop doing something.
to give up (loanword from English, casual)
The temperature goes up.
(I) raise the temperature.