上げる

The core image of this verb is moving something from a lower position to a higher one. This physical movement extends metaphorically to increasing values, improving quality, or reaching a goal (completion).

When used as a verb of giving, it indicates a direction from the speaker (or someone close to the speaker) to another person. It is important to note that this is used when the recipient is of equal or lower social status than the giver. For giving to a superior, the humble verb "sashiageru" is used instead.

In the context of completion, "ageru" often appears as a suffix in compound verbs (e.g., "kaki-ageru" for writing a thesis). In these cases, it emphasizes not just the end of the action, but the successful completion or the "bringing up" of a project to its finished state.

Regarding orthography, while "上げる" is used for physical raising and increasing values, the act of giving is very frequently written in hiragana as "あげる" in modern Japanese to soften the tone and distinguish it from physical lifting.