Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

向上 (こうじょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

向こう上じょう

こ

う

じょ

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

improvement; advancement; rise; elevation; progress

Broadly used for raising or improving quality, skill, status, living standards, efficiency, etc. Often appears in formal or business contexts.

生せい活かつ水すい準じゅんの向こう上じょうが求もとめられている。
An improvement in living standards is being called for.

技ぎ術じゅつの向こう上じょうに努つとめる。

We strive for the advancement of technology.

彼かれの英えい語ご力りょくは著いちじるしく向こう上じょうした。

His English ability improved remarkably.

Kanji

向yonder, facing, beyond
上above, up

Similar words

改かい善ぜん
改善 focuses on correcting problems or making something better that was flawed, while 向上 is a broader rise or advancement in level, quality, or ability, not necessarily from a bad state.
進しん歩ぽ
進歩 emphasizes steady progress or forward steps, often in a historical or developmental sense, whereas 向上 highlights an upward movement in degree or standard.

Etymology

Sino-Japanese compound of 向 (toward, facing) and 上 (up, above), literally 'facing upward', extended to mean improvement or rise in level.