あがる
agaru
To rise in Japanese is あがる (agaru). Wiktionary also lists 上昇する (jōshō suru).
Meaning: to move upwards (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| あがる | agaru |
| 上昇する | jōshō suru |
The verb is used to describe the act of moving upwards. The related noun form, 上昇, can describe both the physical act of ascending and an abstract increase in values such as prices or temperatures.
Which one should you use?
あがる is a common, everyday verb used for general movement upwards or increases. In contrast, 上昇する is more formal and technical, typically used in news reports, scientific papers or business settings to describe trends or physical elevations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
For the informal verb あがる, the past tense is Agatta and the negative form is Agaranai.
How do you pronounce it?
agaru
Did you know?
- In Japanese cooking, the term あがる is used when a dish is finished or 'done', such as when a cake has finished rising in the oven.
- When talking about the sun rising, Japanese speakers often use the verb のぼる (noboru) instead of あがる (agaru). While both mean to rise, のぼる feels more natural for celestial bodies.
- In certain contexts, the word for 'rise' or 'go up' can be used to describe the sound of a voice getting higher in pitch or volume.
Examples in context
- 失業率は徐々に上昇するだろう。The unemployment rate will rise by degrees.This sentence shows how to describe a gradual rise in a rate using 上昇する.Tatoeba #149605 by KK_kaku_, translation #264953 by shekitten
- もしグリーンランドの大氷原が完全にとければ、世界の海水面は5から7メートル上昇するだろう。If Greenland's ice sheet were to melt completely, sea level all over the world would rise by 5 to 7 meters.This sentence uses 上昇する to describe a physical rise in sea level.Tatoeba #6855698 by Sonata, translation #5322513 by Hybrid
- 離婚率は上昇すると予想されている。The divorce rate is expected to rise.This sentence uses 上昇する to describe an expected rise in a rate.Tatoeba #78328 by mookeee, translation #325389 by CM
- Nedan ga agatte iru. (値段が上がっている)The prices are going up.
- Kimochi ga agaru. (気持ちが上がる)My spirits are lifted.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about the weather.
- 健太 Kenta最近、気温があがるね。Saikin, kion ga agaru ne.The temperature has been rising lately, hasn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、もう春みたいだね。Un, mou haru mitai da ne.Yeah, it already feels like spring.
- 健太 Kenta明日ももっとあがるかな。Ashita mo motto agaru kana.I wonder if it will rise even more tomorrow.
- 陽葵 Himariたぶんあがると思うよ。Tabun agaru to omou yo.I think it probably will.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rise” translations and entries あがる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
