upstairs/upward/up

[david-us.livejournal.com]

Just when I thought I understood the use of these words, I run across sentences that confuse me.

Could one of you native Russians kindly break these down and use them each in a sentence - highlighting how they differ from one another?

наверх
навверху
вверх
вверху

And, I guess, while you're at it - you might as well address вниз/внизу.

I realized I had a problem when I ran into an elderly Russian woman (who did not speak English) at an airport baggage claim area and she was asking about where the ticket counter was located. I was trying to tell her to go "up" the escalator and realized I wasn't sure exactly how to say this properly. I got my point across, however. I probably sounded like an idiot, though.

Thanks!

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Comments

[oiseau-russe.livejournal.com]

Наверх, вверх и вниз designate a direction, the other three -- a position.

Like "it is upstairs" means that something наверху and "go upstairs" means наверх.

[oiseau-russe.livejournal.com]

There is a differerence between наверх и вверх, but my English isnotgood enough to explain it :)

[odpaam.livejournal.com]

Наверх, вверх, вниз - are various directions to go to somewhere. You can say "Идите наверх".
Наверху, вверху, внизу - directions too but mostly positions. You can show the way for smbdy saing "Это находится внизу/наверху".

Sorry for clumsy English.

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

First, adverbs ending with -у mean direction оf movement, but those without -у mean place.

Если ты ещё не наверху, поднимись наверх.

Вверх and наверх seem to have quite sheer difference. Sometimes they are replaceable. Вверх is more of larger scale:

Посмотри вверх - какие красивые звёзды!
Посмотри наверх - потолок протекает.

Наверх is used more seldom, mostly as "to the upper part of building or other structure".

Выстрел вверх (not наверх)
На нижней полке шкафа не было место, и я положил книгу наверх (quite informal)

[odpaam.livejournal.com]

не было места
Pls, do not misguide!

[serpent-849.livejournal.com]

First, adverbs ending with -у mean direction оf movement, but those without -у mean place.
vice versa:)

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

Shame on me!

[mithrilian.livejournal.com]

1. "First, adverbs ending with -у mean direction оf movement, but those without -у mean place."

Just the opposite! наверхУ - place, наверх - direction.

2. "На нижней полке шкафа не было место, и я положил книгу наверх (quite informal)"

"не было местА". And it's not informal, whyever do you think so?

[trilbyhat.livejournal.com]

+1
Concerning the (slight) difference between наверх и вверх (наверху и вверху):
the first is usually used where the position (the hight) is defined: on the roof, on the upper floor, on the summit etc. The second is used for indefinite positions, including sky.
Где-то наверху - probably somewhere on the upper floor
Где-то вверху - anywhere above the speaker.
In many cases, however, you can use both.

[trilbyhat.livejournal.com]

My "+1 " approval did not apply to the mistakes mentioned above, of course.

[mithrilian.livejournal.com]

Наверх, вверх - directions. Наверху, вверху - places.

"наверх" stems from на верх. If you mean to direct someone to an upper part of something, use "наверх".

"вверх" means up when there is no "upper part" involved. To move up in the sky would be вверх.

Same reasoning applies to наверху - You can say наверху пирамиды, на вершине пирамиды, на самом верху пирамиды.

Вверху would be again up in the sky/air etc.

[whitest-owl.livejournal.com]

Вверх and вниз are general directions upward and downward. Вверху and внизу are locations - above and below.

Я иду наверх - I am going upwards. And eventually I would come to some "top" or "upper floor".
Я жду тебя наверху - I am waiting for you on the top. I am already on the top and not moving anymore.
Я иду вверх - I am going upward. Just upward, direction in general.
Вверху картины нарисован квадрат - A square is drawn in the upper part of the picture.
Наверху картины нарисован квадрат - A square is drawn on the very top of the picture.

Вниз is a little different from вверх, there is no 'complete' variation of the word:
Я иду вниз - I am going downward. Without distinction of am I going just one floor down or to the basement.
Я жду тебя внизу - I am waiting for you below. Again it can be just one floor below you, or in the lobby or even on the street near the building.

[hyyudu.livejournal.com]

Funny thing: наверху and внизу can't be used for definition of moving upwards or downwards - just staying there.
Я пойду наверх - correct, я пойду наверху - incorrect
Я буду наверху - correct.
Besides, наверху can define any chiefs (company's administration, government, the God) etc.
Тот, кто наверху (i.e. the God) все видит.
Наверху решили дать нам выходной etc.

[spiritrc.livejournal.com]

I'd explain it like this:

наверх = to the very top of something, a destination of movement (as in "go to the sea surface from the deep")
наверху = at the very top of something ("there on the surface", being said at the deep)
вверх = upwards (just the direction of movement, as in "move upwards")
вверху = upwards (just the direction of the location, as in "look, there is something strange upwards")