持もち上あげる

も

ち

あ

げ

る

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

lift up; raise; elevate

A transitive verb for physically lifting something or someone upward. The object being lifted is marked with を.

彼かれは重おもい箱はこを一人ひとりで持もち上あげた。
He lifted the heavy box by himself.
赤あか

ちゃん

を

そっと

持も

ち

上あ

げ

て

ベッド

に

寝ね

かせ

た

。

She gently picked up the baby and laid it on the bed.

2

ichidan verb, transitive verb

flatter; praise highly; talk up

Figurative use: to lift someone up with words, often implying excessive praise, flattery, or hype rather than simple sincere praise.

彼かれは会かい議ぎで上じょう司しをやたらと持もち上あげた。
He flattered his boss excessively at the meeting.
雑ざっ誌しはその新しん人じん俳はい優ゆうを大おおきく持もち上あげている。
The magazine is talking up that new actor in a big way.

Written forms

持もち上あげるUsage77%
Standard common spelling for both the physical sense and the figurative praising or flattering sense.
持もちあげるUsage16%
search-only kanji form
This mixed kanji-kana spelling is a search-only form; prefer 持ち上げる in normal writing.
もちあげるUsage7%
持もち上あげるUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
This un-okurigana spelling is a search-only form; it is not recommended as the normal written form.

Kanji

持hold, have
上above, up

Similar words

上あげる
A broader verb meaning to raise, increase, give, or do upward-related actions; 持ち上げる specifically implies lifting by holding, and also has the figurative sense of flattering.
褒ほめる
Means to praise in a general, usually sincere sense; 持ち上げる often suggests exaggerated praise or flattery.
おだてる
Means to flatter or coax someone with praise, often with a manipulative nuance; 持ち上げる can be milder and also means to hype or elevate someone publicly.

Etymology

A transparent compound of 持つ, 'to hold,' and 上げる, 'to raise.' The figurative sense extends from physically lifting something up to verbally raising someone in esteem.