Translation guide
The English verb "stand" covers many physical and metaphorical meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical uses for learners, from standing up to enduring situations, with natural Japanese equivalents.
Describing the physical action of being upright or getting up.
General verb for standing up or being in a standing position. Intransitive.
He stood up from the chair.
そこに立ってください。
Please stand there.
Emphasizes the action of rising to one's feet, often from a seated or prone position.
転んだ後、すぐに立ち上がった。
After falling, he stood up immediately.
Causing an object to be in a vertical position.
Describing where something is situated, often in a somewhat formal or written style.
Used for buildings or structures being built or standing. Intransitive.
駅の前に新しいビルが建った。
A new building stands in front of the station.
Can also be used for objects standing, but 建つ is more specific to buildings.
山の上に塔が立っている。
A tower stands on top of the mountain.
Implies towering or rising high, often used for mountains or tall buildings.
Expressing the ability or inability to bear something unpleasant.
To endure, put up with. Often used in negative form: 我慢できない (can't stand).
彼の態度には我慢できない。
I can't stand his attitude.
痛みを我慢した。
I stood the pain.
To bear, withstand, often used for physical or emotional hardship. More formal than 我慢する.
彼は苦しみに耐えた。
He stood the suffering.
Pattern meaning 'cannot stand/endure something'. The potential negative form of 耐える.
この暑さには耐えられない。
I can't stand this heat.
Expressing support, adherence, or a stance on an issue.
To support, back up. Used for standing by a person, idea, or policy.
私は彼の意見を支持する。
I stand by his opinion.
To take a stand/position on something.
彼はその問題について中立の立場を取った。
He took a neutral stand on the issue.
To side with, stand by someone in a conflict or difficulty.
友達に味方する。
I stand by my friend.
Describing a state of readiness, accusation, etc., often with adjectives or participles.
The continuous form often covers the idea of 'standing' in a state. Context-dependent.
準備ができている。
We stand ready.
More literal 'to be in a state of'. Formal.
彼は告発された状態にある。
He stands accused.
Being prominent or easily seen.
To stand out, be conspicuous.
彼女は人混みの中で目立つ。
She stands out in a crowd.
To be prominent, striking, especially in comparison to others.
What an abbreviation or symbol represents.
To represent, stand for.
UNはUnited Nationsを表す。
UN stands for United Nations.
To be an abbreviation for.
「ID」は「identification」の略です。
"ID" stands for "identification."
English 'can't stand' meaning strong dislike is not expressed with 立つ. Use 我慢できない or 耐えられない.
彼のことが我慢できない。
I can't stand him.
立つ (intransitive) is for oneself or something standing; 立てる (transitive) is for making something stand. Similar pairs: 建つ/建てる for buildings.
富士山が美しくそびえている。
Mt. Fuji stands beautifully.
彼の才能は際立っている。
His talent stands out.