Translation guide
Describes the action of moving from water onto land, typically for people, boats, or marine animals. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is coming ashore and the context.
Literally 'go up onto land'. Common in everyday speech for coming ashore from water, like after swimming or getting out of a small boat.
泳いで陸に上がった。
I swam and came ashore.
Emphasizes successfully making landfall, often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
探検隊はついに島に上陸を果たした。
The expedition finally came ashore on the island.
To describe a vessel or object drifting or being carried onto land by water.
Used for things that drift ashore, like wreckage, bottles, or small boats. Implies being carried by currents.
流木が海岸に漂着した。
Driftwood came ashore on the beach.
Literally 'be washed up'. Common for objects cast onto the beach by waves, like shells or seaweed.
クジラが砂浜に打ち上げられた。
A whale came ashore on the sandy beach.
Specifically for boats running aground or being stranded on shore, often accidentally.
To describe sea creatures such as turtles or seals moving onto the beach.
Also used for animals like turtles coming ashore to lay eggs. Neutral and widely understood.
ウミガメが産卵のために上陸する。
Sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs.
Casual, descriptive phrase for animals moving onto the beach.
アザラシが浜に上がって休んでいる。
Seals are coming ashore and resting on the beach.
上陸する is more formal and often implies a deliberate landing from a vessel, while 陸に上がる is casual and used for simply getting out of the water onto land.
For getting out of a bathtub or a swimming pool, 上陸する sounds unnatural. Use 上がる (あがる) instead.
乗客は港に上陸した。
The passengers came ashore at the port.
ボトルメッセージが漂着した。
A message in a bottle came ashore.
船が浅瀬に乗り上げた。
The boat came ashore on the shallows.