1.
to climb to the very top
To ascend all the way to the summit or peak of a physical location.
山の頂上まで登り詰めた。
I climbed all the way to the top of the mountain.
階段を登り詰めると展望台に出た。
After climbing all the way up the stairs, I came out at the observation deck.
長い坂を登り詰めた先に神社があった。
At the top of the long slope I had climbed, there was a shrine.
2.
to rise to the highest position, to reach the pinnacle
To advance through ranks or stages to reach the very top of a career, organization, or field. The figurative sense is more common.
社長の座に登り詰めた。
He rose to the position of company president.
彼女は実力で業界のトップに登り詰めた。
She rose to the top of the industry through sheer ability.
下積みの時代を経て、ようやく頂点に登り詰めた選手の姿に感動した。
I was moved by the athlete who finally reached the pinnacle after years of working from the bottom.
USAGE:
A compound verb combining 登る (to climb) with 詰める (to pack in, to push to the limit). The 詰める component adds the nuance of going all the way, leaving nothing further to ascend. The figurative sense (career advancement) is more frequent than the literal one.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- トップに登り詰める: to rise to the top
- 頂点に登り詰める: to reach the pinnacle
- 権力の座に登り詰める: to rise to a seat of power
- 社長に登り詰める: to rise to become president