Meaning

Primary

To Go Up

Alternatives

To Rise, To Get Higher

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji means above, and this verb means to go up or to rise.

It's an intransitive verb, so it doesn't take a direct object. For example: Prices go up. Temperatures rise. See? No direct object. You can remember this because stock prices always seems to go up when you see this one girl (がる). You don't know how this girl makes stock prices go up, she just does. Think of her as your lucky girl.

Reading

あがる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you can guess that it uses the kun'yomi reading. You've learned that reading, but here's a mnemonic in case you need a refresher:

You know this word means to go up or to rise. Imagine just rising into the air, sort of floating up all of a sudden. What would you say? You'd probably scream "Ah!" () the moment you started to go up. You know, out of surprise. Going up? Ah!

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • どんどん上がる

    to go up and up

    少し上がる

    to go up a little

Context Sentences

八月に花火が上がる。

Fireworks get set off in August.

三フロア上までエレベーターで上がりましょう。

Let's take the elevator up three floors.

去年よりコレステロールが上がってしまった。

My cholesterol has gone up from last year.

Kanji Composition