The Japanese term 成り上がる (なりあがる / nariagaru) can be translated into English as “to rise suddenly in the world” or “to climb to a higher position.” It often carries a nuance of achieving success or status, sometimes through ambition or opportunism.
Key Meanings
- To rise in status or position: Refers to someone moving up socially, economically, or professionally.
- Example: He rose from a day laborer to governor. (彼は日雇い労働者から知事になりあがった。)
- To become successful or wealthy: Implies a dramatic change in fortune, often highlighting the effort or ambition involved.
- Nuance of opportunism: Depending on the context, it may carry a slightly negative connotation, suggesting someone who is overly ambitious or self-serving.
Related English Terms
- “To rise to prominence”
- “To climb the social ladder”
- “To make it big”
- “To become an upstart” (negative tone)
- “To achieve success”
Example Usage
- Positive: 彼は努力して成り上がった。
(He rose to success through hard work.) - Negative: 彼は成り上がり者だと陰口を言われている。
(He’s being called an upstart behind his back.)
The term can be used both positively and negatively depending on the context and tone.
引用:
[1] 成り上がる, 成上がる, 成り上る, なりあがる, nariagaru https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/35978/nariagaru-%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B-%E6%88%90%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B-%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%82%8B-%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8A%E3%81%82%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[2] 「成り上がり」の英語・英語例文・英語表現 – Weblio和英辞書 https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[3] Definition of 成り上がる – JapanDict – Japanese Dictionary https://www.japandict.com/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[4] Meaning of 成り上がる in Japanese – RomajiDesu http://www.romajidesu.com/dictionary/meaning-of-%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B.html
[5] 成り上がるの英訳 – 英辞郎 – アルク https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[6] 成り上がり – English translation – Linguee.com https://www.linguee.com/japanese-english/translation/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A.html
[7] 成り上がり – Translation in English – bab.la https://en.bab.la/dictionary/japanese-english/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[8] 成り上がる in English – Japanese-English Dictionary | Glosbe https://glosbe.com/ja/en/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[9] 成り上がりの英訳 – 英辞郎 – アルク https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[10] 「成り上がる」の英語・英語例文・英語表現 – Weblio和英辞書 https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[11] Synonyms (Related Words) of “成り上がる” — Translation … https://dictjuggler.net/en/ruigo/?word=%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[12] Entry Details for 成り上がり [nariagari] – Tanoshii Japanese https://www.tanoshiijapanese.com/dictionary/entry_details.cfm?entry_id=90342
[13] Meaning of 成り上がる in Japanese english dictionary – 英語日本語 … https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/en-jp/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B/
[14] Meaning of 成り上がり in Japanese – RomajiDesu http://www.romajidesu.com/dictionary/meaning-of-%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A.html
[15] 成り上がり, 成上り, なりあがり, nariagari – Nihongo Master https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/89806/nariagari-%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A-%E6%88%90%E4%B8%8A%E3%82%8A-%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8A%E3%81%82%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[16] 「成り上がり」に関連した英語例文の一覧と使い方 – Weblio英語 … https://ejje.weblio.jp/sentence/content/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[17] 「成り上がり」と伝えたい時の英語表現 – Hanaso https://www.hanaso.jp/blog/expression/10096
[18] 成り上がるを英語で訳す – goo辞書 英和和英 https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B/
[19] Jotoba word details for 成り上がる https://jotoba.de/direct/0/1375590
[20] Example word 成り上がり – Make a sentence, how to use it in … – Mazii https://mazii.net/ne-NP/search/example/jane/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A
[21] Definition of 成り上がる – JapanDict – Japanese Dictionary https://www.japandict.com/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8B
[22] 成り上がり者 – 英語への翻訳 – 日本語の例文 | Reverso Context https://context.reverso.net/%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E-%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E/%E6%88%90%E3%82%8A%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%82%8A%E8%80%85
[23] Particle へ: For Marking Direction – Tofugu https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-grammar/particle-he/