Translation guide
The English phrase "move up" can refer to physical movement to a higher position, advancement in a sequence or hierarchy, or making space by shifting. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To go to a higher place or position, such as moving up a floor, a hill, or a seat.
General verb for moving upward, going up, or rising. Used for stairs, hills, stages, etc.
二階に上がってください。
Please move up to the second floor.
彼は壇上に上がった。
He moved up onto the platform.
To climb or go up, often implying effort, like climbing stairs, a hill, or a ladder.
階段を上ってください。
Please move up the stairs.
Literally 'go to the top/upper part'. Simple and clear for moving to a higher location.
もう少し上に行きましょう。
Let's move up a little further.
Intransitive verb; also means to rise or go up. Often used for things like smoke, balloons, or elevators.
エレベーターで上がる。
Go up by elevator.
To move to a higher level in a job, class, queue, or ranking.
To get promoted in a company or organization. Specifically for career advancement.
彼は部長に昇進した。
He moved up to department manager.
For moving up in a ranking, game level, or any tier system.
ゲームでランクが上がった。
I moved up in rank in the game.
When your turn comes sooner, e.g., in a queue. Literally 'the order becomes earlier'.
キャンセルが出たので、順番が早まった。
Since there was a cancellation, my turn moved up.
To rise in the world, succeed in one's career. Slightly broader than 昇進, can imply overall success.
彼は若くして出世した。
He moved up in the world at a young age.
To move oneself or something to create room, often in a seat or line.
To squeeze in, move closer together. Often used when asking people to shift to make space.
もう少し詰めていただけますか。
Could you move up a little?
Move further inside, e.g., on a bus or train. Used to ask people to move toward the back.
奥に進んでください。
Please move up (toward the back).
Move forward to fill gaps, often in a line or queue.
前にもう少し詰めてください。
Please move up a bit more.
To change an appointment or event to an earlier date or time.
To move a schedule forward. Literally 'hasten the schedule'.
会議の日程を早められますか。
Can we move up the meeting date?
To bring forward a plan or schedule. Common in business contexts.
プロジェクトを前倒しで進めています。
We are moving up the project timeline.
To make the time earlier. Simple and direct.
開始時間を30分早めましょう。
Let's move up the start time by 30 minutes.
動く means 'to move' in a general sense, but it doesn't convey upward direction. Use specific verbs like 上がる or 上る.
上がる (あがる) is a general verb for going up, often used for entering a house, going upstairs, or rising. 上る (のぼる) implies climbing or ascending, often with effort, like climbing a mountain or stairs. For elevators, 上がる is more common.