増える vs. 上がる / 減る vs. 下がる

[Maxful]

Hi, could someone explain to me the differences between 増える and 上がる and also 減る and 下がる as "Increase, rise" and "Decrease, dip"? I find these verbs so similar til I am confused.

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by Maxful

Hi, could someone explain to me the differences between 増える and 上がる and also 減る and 下がる as "Increase, rise" and "Decrease, dip"? I find these verbs so similar til I am confused.

I think 増える is more like an increase in amount or volume. Like it's one thing that accumulates. I often see 増える in conjunction with percentages, or population figures. Like, 最近、仕事がない卒業者は増えています。上がる is perhaps more like, physically moves upwards or moves -over- the top of something else. Like...エレベータで４１階まで上げました。

[Maxful]

Thanks, Columbine.

[KyleGoetz]

I always think of 上がる as a generic "goes up" while 増える is for "increase." Similar for 下／減.

Edit: Whoops, as Columbine said.

[Maxful]

Thanks, KyleGoetz.

[Supperman]

風船が増える　The number of balloons increases. For example, there was only one balloon, then, there were two balloons, and three, four....

風船が上がる　The altitude of balloon rises. For example, from 10 feet to 300 feet above sea level.

風船が膨らむ　The size of the balloon becomes larger.


成績が上がる　成績が下がる
価値が上がる　価値が下がる
値段が上がる　値段が下がる
テンションが上がる　テンションが下がる

髪が増える　髪が減る
仲間が増える　仲間が減る
人数が増える　人数が減る
ミスが増える　ミスが減る


I think the collocation is important.
I advise you to memorize them with the subject/object.
I advise you to memorize them as phrases/idioms.

[Maxful]

Thanks, Supperman.