JLPT N1 Kanji: 挙 – Master the Meanings of ‘Raise’ and ‘Lift’

JLPT N1 Kanji: 挙 – Master the Meanings of ‘Raise’ and ‘Lift’

Readings: キョ (Onyomi), あ.げる, あ.がる (Kunyomi)

Meaning: raise, lift, nominate, cite, act

The kanji 挙 is composed of two parts: 手 (hand) on the left, and 興 (to rise, to cause, to excite) on the right. The hand radical clearly indicates an action involving the hand, while 興 contributes the meaning of “raising” or “starting.” Together, they convey the idea of lifting, raising, or initiating an action.

View JLPT N1 Kanji List

How to Write – Stroke Order

The kanji 挙 has 10 strokes. It starts with the two horizontal strokes of the hand radical on the left, followed by the vertical stroke. Then, the components on the right are written: the top horizontal, then the left vertical, the two short strokes on the right, the inner vertical, and finally the bottom horizontal and the last vertical stroke.

Kanji Details

Radical手 (てへん – hand radical)
Strokes10
JLPT LevelN1
Grade6

Readings with English Transcription

Onyomi (Chinese readings)

  • キョ (Kyo)

Kunyomi (Japanese readings)

  • あげる (ageru)
  • あがる (agaru)

Common Words Using 挙

Onyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
挙手きょしゅraising one’s hand
挙行きょこうholding (an event), carrying out
挙式きょしきholding a wedding ceremony
挙動きょどうbehavior, conduct, action
快挙かいきょbrilliant achievement, remarkable feat
愚挙ぐきょfoolish act, stupid action
軽挙けいきょrash act, thoughtless action
暴挙ぼうきょreckless act, outrageous act
壮挙そうきょheroic undertaking, grand enterprise
一挙いっきょat a stroke, at a single attempt

Kunyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
挙げるあげるto raise, to lift, to give (an example), to nominate
挙がるあがるto be raised, to be lifted, to be arrested (informal)
例を挙げるれいをあげるto give an example
名前を挙げるなまえをあげるto mention/nominate a name
腕を挙げるうでをあげるto improve one’s skill, to make progress
身を挙げるみをあげるto devote oneself to, to make a name for oneself
国を挙げてくにをあげてnationwide, with the whole country
掻き挙げるかきあげるto rake up, to sweep up, to toss up (hair)
総力を挙げるそうりょくをあげるto put all one’s efforts into
全員が挙がるぜんいんがあがるall members are present/accounted for

Example Sentences

Japanese: 彼が手を挙げると、先生は彼を指名した。

Kana: かれがてをあげると、せんせいはかれをしめいした。

Romaji: Kare ga te o ageru to, sensei wa kare o shimei shita.

English: When he raised his hand, the teacher called on him.

Japanese: 新しいプロジェクトの開始が挙行された。

Kana: あたらしいプロジェクトのかいしがきょこうされた。

Romaji: Atarashii purojekuto no kaishi ga kyokou sareta.

English: The start of the new project was carried out.

Japanese: 結婚式は盛大に挙行された。

Kana: けっこんしきはせいだいにきょこうされた。

Romaji: Kekkonshiki wa seidai ni kyokou sareta.

English: The wedding ceremony was grandly held.

Japanese: 彼の挙動には不審な点が多かった。

Kana: かれのきょどうにはふしんてんがおおかった。

Romaji: Kare no kyodou ni wa fushin na ten ga ookatta.

English: There were many suspicious points in his behavior.

Japanese: 例を挙げて説明してください。

Kana: れいをあげてせつめいしてください。

Romaji: Rei o agete setsumei shite kudasai.

English: Please explain by giving an example.

Japanese: 全国民が力を挙げて復興に取り組んだ。

Kana: ぜんこくみんがちからをあげてふっこうにとりくんだ。

Romaji: Zenkoku-min ga chikara o agete fukkou ni torikunda.

English: The entire nation put all its efforts into reconstruction.

Japanese: 彼はついに世界記録を挙げる快挙を成し遂げた。

Kana: かれはついにせかいきろくをあげるかいきょをなしとげた。

Romaji: Kare wa tsui ni sekai kiroku o ageru kaikyo o nashitogeta.

English: He finally accomplished the remarkable feat of setting a world record.

Japanese: 些細なことで軽挙妄動を起こすべきではない。

Kana: ささいなことでけいきょもうどうをおこすべきではない。

Romaji: Sasai na koto de keikyo-moudou o okosubeki de wa nai.

English: You should not act rashly over trivial matters.

Japanese: 事件の犯人がついに挙がった。

Kana: じけんのはんにんがついにあがった。

Romaji: Jiken no hannin ga tsui ni agatta.

English: The culprit of the incident was finally apprehended.

Japanese: 問題点をいくつか挙げてください。

Kana: もんだいてんをいくつかあげてください。

Romaji: Mondaiten o ikutsuka agete kudasai.

English: Please list a few problems/issues.

Related Grammar & kanji list

Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top