Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Both verbs relate to movement in an upward direction or increase/completion, but differ in transitivity and specific contexts.
🎯 Primary Function
To express raising/lifting/giving (transitive, 上げる) and rising/going up/being completed/entering/becoming nervous (intransitive, 上がる). They also function as suffixes to indicate completion of an action.
📋 Grammar Structure
上げる: [Noun を] + 上げる (transitive verb)
上がる: [Noun が] + 上がる (intransitive verb)
Compound Verbs:
[Verb ます-stem] + 上げる
[Verb ます-stem] + 上がる
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal contexts, particularly the meanings of increasing, improving, or completing tasks.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in daily conversations for physical movement, entering, finishing tasks, or getting nervous.
Written Language
Frequently appears in both formal and informal writing.
Spoken Language
Very common in spoken Japanese.
💡 Common Applications
Physical Movement (Raise/Rise)
上げる means to physically lift or raise something. 上がる means something physically rises or goes up.
Example: 荷物を上げる (Raise the luggage) vs. 気球が上がる (The hot air balloon rises).
Increase/Improvement
Both can indicate increase or improvement, but 上げる is transitive (increase something), and 上がる is intransitive (something increases/improves).
Example: 給料を上げる (Increase salary) vs. 物価が上がる (Prices rise). / 腕前を上げる (Improve one’s skill) vs. 腕前が上がる (One’s skill improves).
Completion of a Task (Compound Verb Suffix)
Suffix -上げる means to finish doing something, often implying effort or completion. Suffix -上がる also means to finish doing something, sometimes implying natural completion or the state of being finished.
Example: レポートを書き上げる (Finish writing the report) vs. ご飯が炊き上がる (The rice is finished cooking).
Frequency
Very common.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (N3) due to multiple meanings and the transitive/intransitive distinction.
Example Sentences
手を上げて質問してください。
Please raise your hand and ask a question.
富士山にいつか登ってみたいです。
I want to climb Mt. Fuji someday.
物価がどんどん上がっています。
Prices are rising rapidly.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Transitivity is key.
Remember 上げる is transitive (needs a direct object を) and 上がる is intransitive (subject が performs or undergoes the action).
Example: 温度を上げる (Raise the temperature) vs. 温度が上がる (The temperature rises).
Compound verb nuances.
-上げる often implies completion with effort, while -上がる implies completion, sometimes natural or resulting state.
Example: 計画を練り上げる (Refine the plan thoroughly) vs. 焼き上がる (Be finished baking).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using を with 上がる or が with 上げる for physical rising/raising.
✅ Use を with 上げる (transitive) and が with 上がる (intransitive).
上げます takes a direct object (何を？). 上がります describes the subject’s state or movement (何が？).
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. Politeness depends on the verb form (ます form, honorifics, etc.).
Social Situations: 上がってください is a standard polite invitation to enter a house.
Regional Variations: Meanings are standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
仕事を上げる vs. 仕事が上がる
仕事を上げる is not a standard phrase for completing work. 仕事が終わる or 仕事を終える is used. 仕事が上がる means the work is finished (often used from the perspective of the work itself being completed).
When to use: Use 仕事が終わる/終える for “finish work.” Use 仕事が上がる to state that the work is completed (intransitive perspective).
音を上げる vs. 音が上がる
音を上げる means to make a sound louder. 音が上がる means the sound becomes louder on its own, or can idiomatically mean to “give up” (used often in negative forms like 音を上げない “don’t give up”).
When to use: Use 音を上げる for making sound louder. Use 音が上がる for sound volume increasing or idiomatically for giving up.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Both are Godan (五段) verbs, conjugating regularly: 上げる -> 上げます, 上がらない, 上げた, 上げれば, 上げよう, etc. 上がる -> 上がります, 上がらない, 上がった, 上がれば, 上がろう, etc.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Standard Japanese pronunciation. Pay attention to the difference in the vowel for げる (ge) and がる (ga).
🧠 Memory Tips
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Practice Exercises
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