上升
shàngshēng
The English verb 'rise' can be translated into Chinese as 上升 (shàngshēng). Wiktionary also lists 起來 / 起来 (qǐlai).
Meaning: to move upwards (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 上升 | shàngshēng |
| 起來 / 起来 | qǐlai |
上升 is used to describe an upward movement or an increase, particularly in a statistical or numerical sense. It is commonly used when discussing the rise of prices, temperatures or sea levels.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 上升 is composed of 上, meaning up or above and 升, meaning to rise or to ascend.
Which one should you use?
While 上升 can describe general upward movement, it is specifically used for formal or abstract rises, such as prices or sea levels, rather than the physical movement of a person. For physical lifting or raising something to a higher position in formal contexts, one might use 抬高. To express the specific sense of 'rise up' in formal settings or for general upward movement, 升起 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
shàngshēng
Did you know?
- The term for a 'sunrise' is 日出, meaning 'sun exit'. Instead of 'rising' in the sky, the sun is conceptualized as 'exiting' from the horizon.
- The character 升 is a pictograph that originally depicted steam or smoke rising from a vessel. This visual origin emphasizes the effortless, natural quality of the rise.
- The suffix 起来 (qǐlái) in 起来 can act as a verbal complement that means 'to start doing something'. For example, it can turn 'to laugh' into 'to start laughing', which is a completely different sense of 'rising'.
Examples in context
- 道路从这里开始陡然上升。The road starts to suddenly rise from here.This sentence shows how to describe a road that suddenly rises.Tatoeba #1325249 by vicch, translation #7790199 by sharris123
- 原材料的价格如石油或者煤的不停地上升。The prices of raw materials such as oil or coal continue to rise.This sentence illustrates the continuous rise of prices for raw materials.Tatoeba #1256373 by U2FS, translation #1256188 by stb
- 我在想是否北極的冰融化的時候, 海平面就會上升。I wonder if the sea levels will rise when the North Pole melts.This sentence is useful for discussing the rise of sea levels.Tatoeba #765976 by Martha, translation #7837609 by sharris123
- 旭日东升，希望升起在新的一天。As the sun rises in the east, hope rises in a new day.
- 该国经济正在不断上升。The country's economy is continuously rising.
- 请把话筒抬高一点。Please raise the microphone a bit higher.
- 明天太阳将升起。Tomorrow, the sun will rise.
- 别赖床了，起来吧！Stop lying in bed, get up!
Example conversation
A man and a woman are watching a hot air balloon flight.
- 梓涵 Zihan热气球正在上升。Rèqìqiú zhèngzài shàngshēng.The hot air balloon is rising.
- 浩然 Haoran它升得很高啊。Tā shēng de hěn gāo a.It is rising very high.
- 梓涵 Zihan浩然，你看那个高度。Hàorán, nǐ kàn nàge gāodù.Haoran, look at that height.
- 浩然 Haoran梓涵，真的很壮观。Zǐhán, zhēnde hěn zhuàngguān.Zihan, it is truly spectacular.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rise” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
