difference between raise and lift

raise - (дээшлүүлэх, дээш нь болгох, өсгөх)[intransitive]
to lift or move something to a higher level
lift - (өргөх, хөөргөх) [transitive, intransitive] to raise someone or something or be raised to a higher position or level

difference between raise and lift

• They both of course mean 'make higher' but 'lift' is often associated with a certain weight as in: We had to lift the piano over the step in order to get it into the house. Again there is a sport called 'weightlifting' concerned with lifting heavy weights above the head.
  
  'Raise' tends more to show a movement indicating making higher as in: She raised her hand to show she wanted to ask a question.

• Just in case you didn't follow what I meant by the expression 'often associated with', I should explain I was suggesting that 'lift' often goes together with the word 'weight' and when I said 'tends more', I meant that 'raise' more often is used with the idea of making higher.

• And to that end I gave my examples. I maintain that 'lift' has a strong connection with weight and exertion(хүч гаргах) and 'raise' refers to elevation(дээшлэлт). In fact the examples that Bev gives bear that out. 'The car was raised' suggests it was 'elevated' and 'the car was lifted' indicates to me that there was some exertion involved, almost as if it was manhandled(гараар зөөх, ачих). Again 'lifted the weights' shows physical exertion whereas 'raised' could be interpreted (орчуулах) as a mechanical operation. As for the man with the hat, 'raise' is usually associated with hats often in the sense of showing respect and 'lifting hats' doesn't really work for me unless the hat is very heavy! Perhaps a king would lift the crown from his head as it would be quite substantial. Of course there are instances where the words can be used as alternatives, particularly when they are used in a figurative(дүрслэлийн) sense as in: hopes/spirits being raised or lifted.