How to say "elevate" in Japanese

• あげるJLPT N5approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe broadest choice, covering both raising things physically and elevating levels, status, or amounts in an abstract sense. Choose this when the emphasis is on the result of elevation rather than the lifting motion itself.
  質問しつもんがあれば右手みぎてを挙あげて下ください。↗

  If you have a question, please raise your right hand.
• 持ち上げるもちあげるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers elevation in the concrete, physical sense of lifting an object up, typically with the hands. For figurative senses of 'elevate', such as raising rank or quality, this is usually not the word you want.
  この石いしは重おもすぎて持ち上もちあげられない。↗

  This stone is too heavy to lift.

Use 「あげる」 for the general sense of raising something or its level, and 「持ち上げる」 when the physical act of lifting something up with hands or effort is meant.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• あげるto raise
• 持ち上げるもちあげるto elevate
• 進めるすすめるto raise
• 挙げるあげるto raise