上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）: to finish doing ~

上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） means to finish doing ~ when attached to a verb stem. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to express that something is brought to completion or fully done.

This grammar point often appears in neutral to formal contexts. If you want to say that an action is completed from start to finish, 上げる（あげる） and 上がる（あがる） are useful to learn.

What does 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） mean?

Attach 上げる or 上がる to the stem of a verb to indicate that an action is thoroughly finished or completed. This is a compound verb pattern, not a standalone verb.

• 上げる (ageru) — transitive: to finish doing something (someone actively completes it)
• 上がる (agaru) — intransitive: to be finished, to be completed (something reaches completion)

Natural translations include:

• to finish doing ~
• to complete ~
• to be finished / completed

How to form 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）

Verb (masu stem) + 上げる / 上がる

Note: Not all verbs combine naturally with 上げる. It is commonly used with verbs of creation, production, or effort.

When is 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） used?

Use 上げる・上がる in situations like:

• describing something being completed or finished after effort
• talking about projects, reports, novels, or products that are done
• mentioning that a plan or order has been fulfilled

Tone and register:

• neutral to formal
• Common in written reports, business emails, and academic contexts

上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） example sentences

• 彼女は小説を書き上げた。 — She finished writing her novel.
• この会社は新製品を作り上げた。 — This company has created a new product.
• みんなの意見を取り入れて、とてもいいプランが出来上がった。 — A very good plan was completed, incorporating the opinions of everyone.
• 研究のレポートを一日で書き上げた。 — I wrote my research report in one day.
• 出来上がった料理を、お客さんのところに運ぶのが私の仕事です。 — It is my job to bring the finished food to the customer.
• 注文していた年賀状が刷り上がった。 — The New Year’s cards I ordered were finished printing.

Nuance of 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）

The key nuance is the action is thoroughly completed from start to finish, often implying effort or a process.

This matters because it emphasizes completion more than simple past tense does. It suggests the speaker worked through the whole process and reached the end.

For example:

• 書いた (I wrote) is simple past.
• 書き上げた (I finished writing) emphasizes that the writing is complete — start to finish.
• 出来上がった (was completed) is passive/intransitive and stresses the result, not the doer.

上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） vs 終わる (owaru)

Both 上げる・上がる and 終わる can mean to finish, but they are different.

上げる・上がる:

• compound suffix attached to the verb stem
• implies thorough completion, often with effort or creation
• more formal, literary, or business-oriented
• 上がる is intransitive (something becomes finished); 上げる is transitive (actively finish doing)

終わる:

• standalone verb that means “to end” or “to finish”
• can be attached as 〜終わる (V-te + 終わる) to mean “finish doing”
• more general and commonly used in casual speech
• does not necessarily imply effort or completion of a project

Quick contrast:

• 映画が終わった。 — The movie ended. (simple)
• 小説を書き上げた。 — I finished writing the novel. (emphasizes completion of creative work)

Common mistakes with 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it as a standalone verb — it must be attached to a verb stem (e.g., 書き + 上げる)
• Confusing transitive 上げる (主动完成) with intransitive 上がる (自然完成 or 被动)
• Attaching it to verbs where completion is not emphasized (less common with simple actions like 見る or 聞く)
• Mistaking this for the N4 grammar 〜てあげる (to do something for someone as a favor)

Is 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） on the JLPT?

Yes. 上げる・上がる as a compound verb suffix is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize 〜上げる and 〜上がる in reading passages
• distinguish transitive 上げる from intransitive 上がる
• understand the nuance of thorough completion vs simple past tense
• use it correctly with an appropriate verb stem

Practice questions for 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる）

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you finished writing a long email.
• Mention that a building was completed last month.
• Describe a company that finished developing a new app.

Learn 上げる（あげる）・上がる（あがる） with Kanjiru

If you want to review 上げる・上がる together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons