# These Kanji are making me CLIMB the wall

**URL:** <https://community.wanikani.com/t/these-kanji-are-making-me-climb-the-wall/50168>\
**Category:** WaniKani\
**Created:** [March 18, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/these-kanji-are-making-me-climb-the-wall/50168 "2021-03-18T14:58:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![OldBigDog54](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@OldBigDog54](https://community.wanikani.com/u/OldBigDog54)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/these-kanji-are-making-me-climb-the-wall/50168/1 "2021-03-18T14:58:23Z")

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Hi Guys,  
Can someone tell me when to use these two kanji, 登る and 上る. They both mean to climb but when to use which one. Looking at the sentences given with each vocabulary doesn’t seem to give me a clue.  
can you help me please.

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**Author:** ![Leebo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leebo/32/439476_2.png) [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/these-kanji-are-making-me-climb-the-wall/50168/2 "2021-03-18T15:03:09Z")

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上る is typically for climbing things of “normal” height, like stairs. It’s also an “easier” and more generic kanji, so it might get used over other possible kanji for のぼる, even if they have a more precise nuance.

登る is for climbing things that are not of everyday heights, like mountains.

While we’re at it, 昇る is more like “ascend” and deals mostly with things rising into the sky. Clouds, the sun/moon, etc.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/6/2/a/62a8b0f4c59ff2c5b6651ffcf43531480b3e5297.png) [@system](https://community.wanikani.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/these-kanji-are-making-me-climb-the-wall/50168/3 "2022-03-18T15:04:02Z")

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