1.
to liven up the atmosphere; to energize the mood; to get things going
To make a gathering, party, or event more exciting and fun through one's actions, words, or entertainment. A socially valued skill in Japanese group settings.
彼はいつも場を盛り上げてくれる。
He always livens up the atmosphere.
ゲームをして場を盛り上げよう。
Let's play a game to liven things up.
司会者が上手に場を盛り上げて、パーティーは大成功だった。
The emcee skillfully livened up the atmosphere, and the party was a huge success.
USAGE:
Very common in the context of parties, events, and group gatherings. The ability to 場を盛り上げる is considered a social skill. The intransitive form 場が盛り上がる means "the atmosphere becomes lively" (without specifying who caused it).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 場を盛り上げる人 (a person who livens things up)
- 場が盛り上がる (the atmosphere gets lively)
- 宴会を盛り上げる (to liven up a banquet)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 雰囲気を良くする: to improve the atmosphere — less about energy, more about comfort
- 盛り上がる: to get excited — intransitive; the mood itself becomes lively