Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 9: 5/22

上(あ)がる
something is finished, to finish something, something has come to an end, to do something completely, to do something through

上がる is intransitive, 上げる is transitive

Structure
Casual
Polite
(Noun + ) + Verb [ます] + 上がる
(Noun + ) + Verb [ます] + 上げる
(Noun + ) + Verb [ます] + 上がります
(Noun + ) + Verb [ます] + 上げます
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When used after the 連用形(れんようけい) (conjunctive form) of a verb, either of the verbs 上(あ)げる ‘to raise’, or 上(あ)がる ‘to rise’ may be used. They will convey that something has been done ‘to the limit’. 上(あ)がる will be used for actions that take place by themselves (intransitive), while 上(あ)げる will be used for actions that have an instigator (transitive).
Although 上(あ)げる and 上(あ)がる show that something has been done ‘to the limit’, the nuance is usually ‘to do (A) to the point of completion’, or ‘to do (A) through to the end’. Therefore, the ‘limit’ that is being highlighted is usually a natural ending, and not due to running out of some kind of resource. Let’s have a look at some examples.
  • レポートは書(か)きあがった
    Did you finish writing the paper?
  • この炊飯器(すいはんき)使(つか)え20分(ぷん)ご飯(はん)炊(た)きあがるよ。
    If you use this rice cooker, your rice will finish cooking in 20 minutes.
  • 明日(あした)朝(あさ)までに書(か)き上(あ)げる無理(むり)かな?頑張(がんば)らなきゃ
    Is it impossible to finish up writing this paper by tomorrow? I should give it my all.
  • 彼(かれ)は砂(すな)使(つか)って小(ちい)さな街(まち)作(つく)り上(あ)げた
    He used sand to build up a small city.
上(あ)げる and 上(あ)がる are most commonly used when some kind of effect or product is produced as a result of the (A) action. In these cases, the literal meaning of ‘to (A) up’ is very similar to ‘to finish up (A)’ in English.
  • 彼(かれ)作品(さくひん)は5分(ふん)書(か)きあがる
    His pieces are drawn up in 5 minutes.
  • 古(ふる)いコンピューターは立(た)ち上(あ)がるのに10分(ぷん)かかる。
    It takes an old computer 10 minutes to finish up booting.
Caution
仕上(しあ)がる is a very common expression that is used for many things. Usually it conveys that something has been completed after some involved or time consuming process.
  • ラッピング仕上(しあ)がったら番号(ばんごう)お呼(よ)びします。
    We will call you by your number once we finish wrapping it.
  • あれどんな風(ふう)仕上(しあ)がるかな
    I wonder how that will be completed.
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ところで、やっと絵(え)描(えが)きあがった
By the way, the picture has finally been completely painted.
Play  
その日(ひ)のうちに部屋(へや)の壁(かべ)塗(ぬ)り上(あ)げた
I finished painting the room walls before the day was over.
[complete the action of]
Play  
作品(さくひん)仕(し)上(あ)がる
The piece will be finished.
Play