Word
向上
Meaning in Englishrise, improvement, progress
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
向上 means improvement or advancement; it refers to the ongoing process or result of becoming better in quality, capability, or status, often in contrast with decline.
Main meanings
- improvement in quality or standard
- advancement or progress in a field, skill, or activity
- a rise in performance metrics or living standards
How to use it
Used across formal and semi-formal contexts to describe positive change in quality, ability, or situation; commonly paired with 向上する to form a verb, and in phrases like 技術の向上, 学力の向上, 生活水準の向上.
Variants and close terms
- 改善 (kaizen) — improvement
- 進歩 (shinpo) — progress
- 発展 (hatten) — development
- 上昇 (joushou) — rise
- 低下 (teika) — decline
- 落下 (rakka) — fall
Composition
- 向: toward, facing; direction
- 上: up, above; ascent
- Combined: a movement toward the higher position or quality, yielding the sense of improvement or upward progression
Word class
noun (名詞); suru-verb (suru verb) with 向上する
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
上京
joukyou
going to Tokyo, moving to the capital
N3
上達
joutatsu
improvement, progress, skill advancement
N3
上等
joutou
first class, excellent, high quality
N3
傾向
keikou
tendency, trend, inclination
N3
向かい
mukai
opposite side, across from
N3
向く
muku
face, turn toward, be suitable
N3
向ける
mukeru
turn toward, point, direct
N3
目上
meue
superior, senior person
N3
持ち上げる
mochiageru
lift up, raise, flatter
Kanji