“neage” vs. “neagari”：You Should Be Clear About These!

Prices go up in Japan just as they do everywhere, and Japanese has two words for exactly that situation: 値上げ (neage) and 値上がり (neagari). Both involve prices rising, and both even share the same kanji — yet they are not interchangeable. The difference comes down to who or what is doing the raising. Get this right, and your Japanese will sound noticeably more natural when discussing money, shopping, and the economy.

Yuka

Rei, I’ve seen 値上げ and 値上がり so many times but I always second-guess myself. Help!

Rei

Don’t worry — this is one of the most common points of confusion for English speakers. Let me clear it up once and for all!

At a Glance: 値上げ vs. 値上がり

値上げ (neage) — A Price Increase Caused by Someone

値上げ describes the act of raising a price — specifically when a person, company, or institution deliberately decides to raise prices. The key is agency: someone made a choice to increase the price. This word carries a slightly negative connotation from the consumer’s perspective, because it means a business has decided to charge you more.

値上げ is commonly used as a noun or as a compound verb: 値上げをする (neage wo suru) or 値上げする (neage suru), both meaning “to raise prices.” The subject is always the entity doing the raising.

Example 1 — company raising prices:

そのスーパーは来月から食品の値上げをする。
Sono suupaa wa raigetsu kara shokuhin no neage wo suru.
That supermarket will raise food prices starting next month.

Example 2 — government policy:

電気料金の値上げが発表された。
Denki ryoukin no neage ga happyou sareta.
An electricity rate increase has been announced.

Example 3 — consumer reaction:

また値上げか。家計が苦しい。
Mata neage ka. Kakei ga kurushii.
Another price hike? My household budget is tight.

Yuka

Okay, that example with 値上げ really helped! I never saw it used that way before.

Rei

Right? Seeing real examples is so much more useful than memorizing a definition. 値上げ is definitely one of those words you’ll start noticing everywhere.

値上がり (neagari) — Prices Rising on Their Own

値上がり describes a price rise that occurs naturally or as a result of market forces — not because of a deliberate decision by a specific actor. The price itself “went up.” This word is often used in financial and economic contexts where market dynamics drive changes: stock prices, real estate values, commodity prices.

値上がり is used as a noun or as a verb: 値上がりする (neagari suru). Notice that there is no external agent — the subject of 値上がりする is the price or item that rose in value.

Example 1 — stock market:

今日は株が大きく値上がりした。
Kyou wa kabu ga ookiku neagari shita.
Stocks rose significantly today.

Example 2 — real estate:

都市部の土地は毎年値上がりしている。
Toshibu no tochi wa maitoshi neagari shite iru.
Urban land prices rise every year.

Example 3 — expecting a price rise:

この商品は将来値上がりするかもしれない。
Kono shouhin wa shourai neagari suru kamoshirenai.
This product might increase in value in the future.

Yuka

And 値上がり — is it used in formal situations, casual ones, or both?

Rei

Great observation! 値上がり actually works in both — context is everything. The comparison table coming up should make this super clear.

Agent vs. No Agent: The Core Rule

The single most important distinction: 値上げ requires someone actively raising the price; 値上がり happens without a named agent. Here is how that plays out in practice:

Decision Flowchart: 値上げ or 値上がり?

Prices have gone up. Which word do you use?
        |
        v
Is there a specific person / company / institution
who decided to raise the price?
        |
   _____|_____________
  |                   |
 YES                  NO
(Someone raised it)   (Market forces / natural rise)
  |                   |
  v                   v
値上げ               値上がり
スーパーが値上げした   株が値上がりした
(The supermarket     (Stocks rose in value)
 raised prices)

Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

Yuka

I feel ready! Let’s see how well I really know 値上げ and 値上がり.

Rei

Let’s find out! Don’t peek at the answers until you’ve tried each one yourself.

Choose 値上げ or 値上がり for each sentence.

Q1. The airline announced a fare increase for next summer.
航空会社は来夏の運賃＿＿＿を発表した。
Koukuu gaisha wa raika no unchin ___ wo happyou shita.

Answer: 値上げ (neage)
Reason: The airline (company) made a deliberate decision. Use 値上げ.

Q2. The price of rare sneakers has been rising.
レアなスニーカーの値段が＿＿＿している。
Rea na suniikaa no nedan ga ___ shite iru.

Answer: 値上がり (neagari)
Reason: Market demand drives sneaker prices up — no specific actor. Use 値上がり.

Q3. That coffee shop raised its drink prices by 30 yen.
あのカフェはドリンクを30円＿＿＿した。
Ano kafe wa dorinku wo sanjuuen ___ shita.

Answer: 値上げ (neage)
Reason: The café made the decision. Use 値上げ.

Q4. Real estate in central Tokyo has been rising steadily.
東京都心の不動産が着実に＿＿＿している。
Tokyo toshin no fudousan ga chakujitsu ni ___ shite iru.

Answer: 値上がり (neagari)
Reason: Real estate values rise due to market conditions — no single agent. Use 値上がり.

Q5. Due to inflation, many companies raised their prices this year.
インフレの影響で、多くの企業が今年＿＿＿をした。
Infure no eikyou de, ooku no kigyou ga kotoshi ___ wo shita.

Answer: 値上げ (neage)
Reason: Companies actively decided to raise prices. Even if inflation caused them to, the act is theirs. Use 値上げ.

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