Translation guide
How to express 'stand up' in Japanese, covering physical rising, standing upright, and figurative uses like defending oneself or failing to appear.
To get up from a sitting, lying, or crouching position.
The most common and general verb for standing up. Used for rising from a seat, bed, or the ground.
彼は椅子から立ち上がった。
He stood up from the chair.
転んだ後、すぐに立ち上がった。
After falling, I stood up right away.
Means 'to stand' or 'to rise'. Often used in the imperative form 立って (たって) as a casual command. Can also mean simply being in a standing state.
立ってください。
Please stand up.
彼はドアのそばに立っていた。
He was standing by the door.
Formal term used in schools, ceremonies, or military contexts. Often heard as the command 起立！ (Kiritsu!).
全員起立してください。
Everyone, please stand up.
To be in a standing position, not sitting or lying down.
The progressive form of 立つ, used to describe the state of standing. Often used with ずっと (for a long time) or まだ (still).
電車の中でずっと立っていた。
I stood the whole time on the train.
彼はまだ立っている。
He is still standing.
Means 'standing the whole time' or 'left standing', emphasizing the continuous nature and often implying discomfort.
To defend or support someone or something, especially against criticism or attack.
Literally 'stand up for ~'. Used figuratively to mean defending or fighting for a cause or person.
彼は正義のために立ち上がった。
He stood up for justice.
Means 'to protect/defend ~'. A more direct way to express standing up for someone.
友達を守るために声を上げた。
I spoke up to stand up for my friend.
To fail to meet someone as planned, especially for a date.
Casual verb meaning to blow off or stand someone up. Often used for dates or appointments.
彼にデートをすっぽかされた。
I was stood up by him for our date.
Slang for canceling at the last minute. Can be used for standing someone up, though it implies a cancellation rather than simply not showing up.
待ち合わせをドタキャンされた。
I got stood up for our meeting (last-minute cancellation).
To be or become erect or upright, like hair standing on end or a collar standing up.
Used for hair standing on end, often from fear or cold. Also used figuratively for feeling a chill.
怖くて髪の毛が逆立った。
My hair stood on end from fear.
General verb for something standing up, like a collar or ears. Often used in descriptive phrases.
襟が立っているシャツ
a shirt with a standing collar
立ち上がる focuses on the action of rising from a lower position, while 立つ can mean both the action of rising and the state of standing. Use 立ち上がる when emphasizing the movement of getting up.
転んだが、すぐに立ち上がった。
I fell but stood up immediately.
そこに立って待っていてください。
Please stand there and wait.
Do not use 立ち上がる to mean 'stand someone up' (fail to meet). That would be a literal mistranslation. Use すっぽかす or ドタキャンする instead.
立ってください。
Please stand up.
彼は椅子から立ち上がった。
He stood up from his chair.
デートをすっぽかされた。
I was stood up on my date.
I was standing for three hours at the concert.