昇(のぼ)る

のぼる
verb (godan)
to rise, to ascend (sun, smoke, etc.)
1. to rise, to ascend
Used for things that rise naturally — the sun, moon, smoke, steam, etc. Describes upward motion of natural phenomena rather than physical climbing by a person.
太陽(たいよう)が昇(のぼ)る。
The sun rises.
東(ひがし)の空(そら)に月(つき)が昇(のぼ)った。
The moon rose in the eastern sky.
初日(はつひ)の出(で)を見(み)ようと、山頂(さんちょう)で日(ひ)が昇(のぼ)るのを待(ま)った。
To see the first sunrise of the year, I waited at the summit for the sun to rise.

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). No transitive pair.

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing rising or completed rise. 日(ひ)が昇(のぼ)っている = 'the sun has risen / is rising.'

KANJI NOTE:

Three kanji are used for のぼる, each with a different meaning:

  • 昇(のぼ)る: natural rising (sun, moon) — this entry
  • 登(のぼ)る: climbing (mountains, stairs)
  • 上(のぼ)る: going up (general upward movement)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 日(ひ)が昇(のぼ)る: the sun rises
  • 太陽(たいよう)が昇(のぼ)る: the sun rises
  • 月(つき)が昇(のぼ)る: the moon rises

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 登(のぼ)る: to climb (physical climbing)
  • 上(のぼ)る: to go up (general)
  • 上(あ)がる: to rise, to go up

Related Words

See also: 登(のぼ)る (to climb)
general
Added 2026.2.23 8:40
12500/12960_noboru