Translation and Meaning of: 上がる - agaru

If you have already studied Japanese, you have probably encountered the verb 上がる (あがる), one of those words that seems simple but hides a wealth of meanings and uses. In this article, we will explore the etymology, the pictogram, and the contexts in which this versatile little word appears in the daily life of the Japanese. Additionally, you will discover tips for memorizing it and even some curiosities that not everyone knows. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition method, get ready for some useful sentences that will boost your studies.

The verb 上がる is one of those cases where a single word can mean anything from "to rise" to "to get excited" or even "to die" in specific contexts. But why so many meanings? The answer lies in the origin and the way the Japanese language has evolved to embrace multiple concepts in a single expression. Let's uncover all of this below.

Etymology and Origin of 上がる

The word 上がる has its roots in ancient Japanese, deriving from the verb 上ぐ (あぐ), which already carried the idea of upward movement. The kanji 上 (which means "above" or "superior") is key to understanding its essence: almost all meanings of 上がる revolve around something that rises, advances, or intensifies. Whether climbing a staircase, increasing the volume, or even the tension in a conversation, the idea of "upward" is always present.

Interestingly, some of the more abstract meanings, such as "to get agitated" or "to die," arose from cultural association. In feudal Japan, for example, the expression 上がる was used metaphorically to describe the ascent of the soul after death. In the context of nervousness, the image is of something that "rises" inside you, like the anxiety before a presentation. Do you see how everything connects?

Lies in Japanese Everyday Life

In everyday life, Japanese people use 上がる in situations ranging from the trivial to the emotionally charged. If you've ever heard someone say 温度が上がる (おんどがあがる), you know that the temperature is rising. But if a colleague mentions 緊張で上がってしまった (きんちょうであがってしまった), they are talking about getting so nervous that they freeze up. This flexibility makes the word appear in everything from weather forecasts to conversations about feelings.

One usage that often confuses beginners is in cooking. When a Japanese person says ご飯が上がった (ごはんがあがった), they are not announcing that the rice has risen, but rather that it is ready to serve. This sense of "completion" also appears in phrases like 仕事が上がる (しごとがあがる), indicating that the work has been finished. Want a challenge? Try to identify in which of these contexts the word appears in the next Japanese series you watch!

Tips for Memorizing and Curiosities

An infallible way to solidify 上がる is to associate it with mental images that encompass its multiple meanings. Imagine a graph rising (increase), a person entering a place (to enter), and even a ghost leaving the body (to die). It seems bizarre, but our brain remembers visual stories better than loose lists of translations.

And here’s a fun fact that few know: in some regional dialects, like that of Osaka, 上がる can be used humorously to say that someone has "gone crazy" or "lost their mind." It’s no wonder that manzai comedians (Japanese comedic duos) love to play with this ambiguity. Want to test your knowledge? Try to create a sentence using 上がる in the sense of "improve" and share it in the comments on Suki Nihongo — the largest online Japanese dictionary!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 上がる

• 上がる: Dictionary form
• 上がります: Polite way
• 上がりました: Past form
• 上がれ: imperative form

Synonyms and similar words

• 登る (noboru) - Climb, scale (usually refers to climbing mountains or buildings)
• 昇る (noboru) - Rise, elevate oneself (usually refers to the sun or something that rises in the sky)
• 上る (noboru) - Ascend, rise (most commonly used in contexts of vertical movement, such as climbing stairs or hills)

上がる

Romaji: agaru
Kana: あがる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to enter; move up; increase; climb; advance; appreciate; get promoted; to improve; visit; be offered; accumulate; finish; arrive at (expenses); bankrupt; start spinning (cocoons); get caught; get agitated; eat; to drink; to die.

Meaning in English: to enter;to go up;to rise;to climb up;to advance;to appreciate;to be promoted;to improve;to call on;to be offered;to accrue;to be finished;to come to (expenses);to go bankrupt;to begin spinning (cocoons);to be caught;to get ruffled;to eat;to drink;to die;

Definition: Go to a higher place.

Example Sentences - (上がる) agaru

See below some example sentences:

噴出した水蒸気が空に舞い上がった。

Funsu shita suijōki ga sora ni maiagatta

The spat out water vapor flew into the sky.

• 噴出した (funsu shita) - verb meaning "to gush" or "to sneeze"
• 水蒸気 (suijouki) - noun meaning "water vapor"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 空 (sora) - noun meaning "heaven"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the target or location of the action
• 舞い上がった (maiagatta) - verb meaning "to dance up" or "to float", conjugated in the past tense

消費税が上がった。

Shouhizei ga agatta

The consumption tax increased.

The consumption tax increased.

• 消費税 - Consumption tax
• が - Subject particle
• 上がった - Subiu

火口から煙が立ち上がっている。

Kakou kara kemuri ga tachiagatte iru

Smoke is leaving the crater.

The smoke is standing from the crater.

• 火口 (kakou) - volcano eruption
• から (kara) - from, starting at
• 煙 (kemuri) - smoke
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 立ち上がっている (tachiagatteiru) - It's rising, it's rising

煙突から煙が立ち上がっている。

Enototsu kara kemuri ga tachiagatte iru

Smoke is leaving the chimney.

The smoke is standing from the chimney.

• 煙突 (entotsu) - chimney
• から (kara) - from, starting at
• 煙 (kemuri) - smoke
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 立ち上がっている (tachiagatteiru) - It's rising, it's rising