1.
to crawl up, to clamber up
To climb upward by crawling; to ascend with difficulty using hands and body.
赤ちゃんが階段を這い上がろうとしている。
The baby is trying to crawl up the stairs.
崖を必死に這い上がった。
I desperately clambered up the cliff.
虫が壁を這い上がっている。
An insect is crawling up the wall.
2.
to rise from a difficult situation
(Figurative) To struggle up from hardship or a low position; to work one's way up.
どん底から這い上がってきた人だ。
He's someone who rose from rock bottom.
Figurative use
TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞 (intransitive). Compound verb: 這う + 上がる.
COMPOUND VERB PATTERN: ～上がる compounds indicate upward movement:
- 駆け上がる (to run up)
- 浮き上がる (to float up)
- 飛び上がる (to jump up)
- 這い出る (to crawl out - related)
FIGURATIVE USE: Common in rags-to-riches stories and descriptions of overcoming adversity.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 地獄から這い上がる (rise from hell)
- どん底から這い上がる (rise from rock bottom)