上がります（あがります、agarimasu）
- to rise

The Japanese verb 上がります (あがります) primarily means "to rise," "to go up," "to increase," "to be raised," or "to go up to." It indicates a change in position, level, quantity, or value, often in an upward direction. The meaning can vary depending on the context. The subject of the action (the thing that rises) is often inanimate, but it can also be animate depending on the nuance. Note that this verb is intransitive; it does not take a direct object. This is a crucial point to understanding its usage.

⚫︎気温が上がりました。 Translation: The temperature rose. ⚫︎給料が上がりました。 Translation: My salary increased. ⚫︎階段を上がります。 Translation: I go up the stairs.

⚫︎ This verb is used to describe a wide range of situations. ⚫︎ It can refer to physical movement (going up stairs, a plane taking off). ⚫︎ It can relate to abstract concepts like an increase in price, a score, or the level of something. ⚫︎ It is frequently used in business to describe an increase in sales or profits. ⚫︎ Consider the context to grasp the precise meaning, since it can differ. ⚫︎ Because this is intransitive, you cannot use it in the form like *"I raised the price."* You will need to use other verbs for this case. ⚫︎ This is a very common and versatile verb.

⚫︎ The base form is 上がる (あがる). ⚫︎ The polite form, 上がります [上がります], is commonly used in everyday conversation and formal settings. ⚫︎ The kanji is 上がる. ⚫︎ The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is always がります. ⚫︎ Other conjugations include 上がらない (あがらない - doesn't rise/won't rise), 上がった (あがった - rose/went up), 上がれば (あがれば - if it rises), etc.

⚫︎ 高くなる (たかくなる) - to become higher, to increase in value. ⚫︎ 増える (ふえる) - to increase (in number or amount). ⚫︎ 伸びる (のびる) - to stretch, to extend, to grow (in height, length, etc.). ⚫︎ 上昇する (じょうしょうする) - to rise; to go up (more formal).

⚫︎ 下がる (さがる) - to fall, to go down, to decrease. ⚫︎ 減る (へる) - to decrease (in number or amount). ⚫︎ 下落する (げらくする) - to fall, to drop (in value, price, etc.) - more formal.

株価が上がりました。 ・Translation: The stock price rose. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 上がります [上がりました] to indicate an increase in the stock price, a financial concept.

エレベーターで五階まで上がります。 ・Translation: I will go up to the fifth floor by elevator. ・Explanation: This sentence describes physical movement and location. This implies the elevator going up to reach the fifth floor.

The verb 上がる (あがる) is composed of the kanji 上 (うえ), which means "above" or "up," and the verb suffix がる. The origin is quite literal: to move upwards or to be positioned in a higher place. The verb likely evolved from the general concept of "going up" or "being in a higher position."