Japanese symbol for “ascend”
上る
のぼる
Romaji: noboru
to ascend; to go up; to climb
In Japanese, ascend is 上る, read のぼる (noboru).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5r, vi to ascend; to go up; to climb
- v5r, vi to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise
- v5r, vi to go to (the capital)
- v5r, vi to be promoted
- v5r, vi to add up to
- v5r, vi to advance (in price)
Written forms: 上る、登る、昇る. Readings: のぼる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “ascend”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 上がる | あがる agaru | to rise; to go up; to come up |
| 就く | つく tsuku | to ascend (the throne); to accede |
| 揚がる | あがる agaru | to rise; to go up; to come up |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 以上 | いじょう ijou | not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above |
| 売り上げ | うりあげ uriage | amount sold; sales; proceeds |
| 上昇 | じょうしょう joushou | rising; ascending; climbing |
| 向上 | こうじょう koujou | elevation; rise; improvement |
| 上司 | じょうし joushi | (one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups |
| 地上 | ちじょう chijou | above ground; on the ground; earth's surface |
See also: Chinese symbol for “ascend”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.