上

See also: 丄

上 U+4E0A, 上 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E0A ← 三 [U+4E09] CJK Unified Ideographs 下 → [U+4E0B]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

上 (Kangxi radical 1, 一+2, 3 strokes, cangjie input 卜一 (YM), four-corner 2110₀, composition ⿱⺊一)

Derived characters

• 仩, 圵, 䒙, 㫔, 仧, 尗, 忐, 㫖
• 让 (Simplified from 讓)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 76, character 7
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13
• Dae Jaweon: page 145, character 1
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 5, character 4
• Unihan data for U+4E0A

---

Chinese

simp. and trad.		上
alternative forms		丄 𠄞 尚 Min Nan “most”

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 上
Shang	Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)		Liushutong (compiled in Ming)	Libian (compiled in Qing)	Kangxi Dictionary (compiled in Qing)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts	Clerical script	Ming typeface
Oracle bone script j00024 j00025 j00026 j00027 j00028 j00029 j00030 Bronze inscriptions b00109 b00110 b00111 b00112 b00113 b00114 b00115 b00116 b00117 b00118 b00119 b00120 b00121 b00122 b00123 b00124 b00125 b00126 b00127 b00128 b00129 b00130 b00131 b00132 b00133 Small seal script s00008 Transcribed ancient scripts L35088 L35089 L35090 L35091 L35092 L35093 L35094 L17519 L17520 L17521 L17522 L17523 L17524 L17525 L17526 L17527 L17528 L17529
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (上) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
丄	*djaŋʔ, *djaŋs
上	*djaŋʔ, *djaŋs

Ideogram (指事) : a line above another (contrast 下 (xià)) — up. Originally written as 𠄞, but changed to this form to prevent confusion with 二 (èr).

Etymology 1

From Sino-Tibetan. Cognate with Tibetan ཡང་རྩེ (yang rtse, “summit; pinnacle”) (Bodman, 1980), Mizo zo (“to be high”), zah (“to respect; to revere”). STEDT, on the other hand, considers 上 to be from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-tjaŋ (“upper part; rise; raise; top; summit”).

Shijing rimes indicate occasional level tone for pronunciation 2 (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation 1 is the exopassive of pronunciation 2 with suffix *-s, literally meaning "what has been raised" (Schuessler, 2007). The rising tone in Middle Chinese words with voiced stop initials regularly evolves into departing tone in Mandarin; pronunciation 3 results from 叶韻 (xiéyùn), which artificially preserves classical poetry rhyming words' pronunciations.

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shàng (shang⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄤˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): sang⁴

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шон (šon, III)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): soeng⁶

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): siang⁵

• Gan (Wiktionary): song⁵
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): song

  (Meixian, Guangdong): song⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): son³ / hon³
• Eastern Min (BUC): siông
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): siōng / siāng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): zion⁷ / ziên⁷ / siang⁶

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶zaon
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shan⁵ / shan⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shàng
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄤˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shàng
    • Wade–Giles: shang⁴
    • Yale: shàng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shanq
    • Palladius: шан (šan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɑŋ⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: sang⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: sang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /saŋ²¹³/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шон (šon, III)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɑŋ⁴⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: soeng⁶
    • Yale: seuhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ²²/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: siang⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siaŋ³²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: song⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɔŋ¹¹/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: song
    • Hakka Romanization System: song
    • Hagfa Pinyim: song⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /soŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: song⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sɔŋ⁵³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: son³ / hon³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /sɒ̃⁴⁵/, /xɒ̃⁴⁵/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: siông
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /suɔŋ²⁴²/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, General Taiwanese, Philippines)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siōng
    • Tâi-lô: siōng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siong
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /siɔŋ³³/
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Philippines): /siɔŋ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Xiamen): /siɔŋ²²/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siāng
    • Tâi-lô: siāng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siang
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /siaŋ²²/

Note: Xiamen siāng - only used for “most”.

• • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: zion⁷ / ziên⁷ / siang⁶
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsiōⁿ / tsiēⁿ / siăng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sĩõ¹¹/, /t͡sĩẽ¹¹/, /siaŋ³⁵/

Note:

• zion7/ziên7 - vernacular (“upper part; up; on; above; in”);
• siang6 - literary (“superior; most”).

• Wu
  • (Shanghai):
    • Wugniu: ⁶zaon
    • MiniDict: zaon^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zaan
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zɑ̃²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shan⁵ / shan⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂan²¹/, /ʂan⁴⁵/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /san²¹/, /san⁴⁵/

Note:

• shan5 - vernacular;
• shan4 - literary.

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyangH

Rime
Character	上
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	常 (25)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	時亮切
Baxter	dzyangH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨɐŋH/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɐŋH/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑiɑŋH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨaŋH/
Li Rong	/ʑiaŋH/
Wang Li	/ʑĭaŋH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯aŋH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*daŋʔ-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djaŋs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	上
Reading #	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shàng
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyangH ›
Old Chinese	/*daŋʔ-s/
English	top, above (n.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	上
Reading #	2/2
No.	11103
Phonetic component	上
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	尚
Old Chinese	/*djaŋs/

Definitions

(deprecated template usage) 上

1. upper part; high position; up

   Template:zh-ant

2. ^† emperor
3. on; above

   樹上／树上  ―  shùshàng  ―  on the tree

   筆在桌上。／笔在桌上。  ―  Bǐ zài zhuōshàng.  ―  The pen is on the desk.

4. superior; senior; top
5. preceding; previous; last; former

   上一年  ―  shàng yī nián  ―  last year

   上集  ―  shàng jí  ―  last episode

   上世紀／上世纪  ―  shàng shìjì  ―  last century

6. first of several (usually two or three) partitions

   Template:zh-ant

   西遊記上／西游记上  ―  Xīyóujì shàng  ―  Journey to the West I

   上古漢語和中古漢語 [MSC, trad.]
   上古汉语和中古汉语 [MSC, simp.]

   shànggǔ hànyǔ hé zhōnggǔ hànyǔ [Pinyin]

   Old Chinese and Middle Chinese

7. within; in; from the standpoint of; according to

   在理論上／在理论上  ―  zài lǐlùn shàng  ―  according to theory

   在這個世界上／在这个世界上  ―  zài zhège shìjiè shàng  ―  in this world

   在英文上沒有相似的說法。 [MSC, trad.]
   在英文上没有相似的说法。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zài yīngwén shàng méiyǒu xiàngsì de shuōfǎ. [Pinyin]

   There is no similar way of wording in English.

   • 人人生而自由，在尊嚴和權利上一律平等。 [MSC, trad.]
     人人生而自由，在尊严和权利上一律平等。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

     Rénrén shēng ér zìyóu, zài zūnyán hé quánlì shàng yīlǜ píngděng. [Pinyin]

     All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

8. (Southern Min) most; extremely

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shàng (shang⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄤˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): sang⁴

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): soeng⁵

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): siang¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): song⁵
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sông / sóng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): song¹ / song³

• Jin (Wiktionary): son³ / hon³
• Eastern Min (BUC): siông / chiông
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chiūⁿ / chiōⁿ / chiǔⁿ / chhiūⁿ / chhiōⁿ / chhiǔⁿ

  (Teochew, Peng'im): zion⁶ / ziên⁶

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶zaon
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shan⁵ / shan⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shàng
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄤˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shàng
    • Wade–Giles: shang⁴
    • Yale: shàng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shanq
    • Palladius: шан (šan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɑŋ⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: sang⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: sang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /saŋ²¹³/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: soeng⁵
    • Yale: séuhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng⁵
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ¹³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: siang¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siaŋ³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: song⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɔŋ¹¹/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sông / sóng
    • Hakka Romanization System: song´ / song`
    • Hagfa Pinyim: song¹ / song³
    • Sinological IPA: /soŋ²⁴/, /soŋ³¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: song¹ / song³
    • Sinological IPA: /sɔŋ⁴⁴/, /sɔŋ³¹/

Note:

• sông / song1 - “to go up; to go; to attend” (major reading);
• sóng / song3 - “to fit; to install; to apply”.

• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: son³ / hon³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /sɒ̃⁴⁵/, /xɒ̃⁴⁵/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: siông / chiông
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /suɔŋ²⁴²/, /t͡sʰuɔŋ²⁴²/

Note:

• siông - “to go up” (major reading);
• chiông - only in “to pull up”.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Yilan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiūⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tsiūnn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: cviu
    • IPA (Xiamen, Kinmen): /t͡siũ²²/
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Yilan): /t͡siũ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Tainan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiōⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tsiōnn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: cvioi
    • IPA (Tainan): /t͡siɔ̃³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡siɔ̃²²/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Lukang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiǔⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tsiǔnn
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡siũ²²/
    • IPA (Lukang): /t͡siũ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Yilan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiūⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tshiūnn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: chviu
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Yilan): /t͡sʰiũ³³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Kinmen): /t͡sʰiũ²²/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Tainan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiōⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tshiōnn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: chvioi
    • IPA (Tainan): /t͡sʰiɔ̃³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰiɔ̃²²/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Lukang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiǔⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tshiǔnn
    • IPA (Lukang): /t͡sʰiũ³³/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰiũ²²/

Note:

• chiūⁿ/chiōⁿ/chiǔⁿ - “to go up” (major reading);
• chhiūⁿ/chhiōⁿ/chhiǔⁿ - only in “to pull up; to grow; to pile up”.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: zion⁶ / ziên⁶
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsiŏⁿ / tsiĕⁿ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sĩõ³⁵/, /t͡sĩẽ³⁵/
• Wu
  • (Shanghai):
    • Wugniu: ⁶zaon
    • MiniDict: zaon^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zaan
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zɑ̃²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shan⁵ / shan⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂan²¹/, /ʂan⁴⁵/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /san²¹/, /san⁴⁵/

Note:

• shan5 - vernacular;
• shan4 - literary.

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyangX

Rime
Character	上
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	常 (25)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	時掌切
Baxter	dzyangX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨɐŋX/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɐŋX/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑiɑŋX/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨaŋX/
Li Rong	/ʑiaŋX/
Wang Li	/ʑĭaŋX/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯aŋX/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*Cə-daŋʔ/, /*m-daŋʔ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djaŋʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	上	上
Reading #	1/3	2/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shàng	shàng
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyangX ›	‹ dzyangX ›
Old Chinese	/*Cə-daŋʔ/	/*m-daŋʔ/
English	ascend	to put up
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	上
Reading #	1/2
No.	11102
Phonetic component	上
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	上
Old Chinese	/*djaŋʔ/

Definitions

(deprecated template usage) 上

1. to go up; to ascend
2. to charge; to advance
   • 上啊！  ―  Shàng a!  ―  Charge!
3. to go to; to leave for (a place) (usually to a more developed place)
   • 上省城  ―  shàng xǐngchéng  ―  to go to province capital
4. to board; to get on
   • 請上車。／请上车。  ―  Qǐng shàng chē.  ―  Please get into the car.
5. to serve; to present; to offer

   • 還有兩個菜沒上。 [MSC, trad.]
     还有两个菜没上。 [MSC, simp.]

     Háiyǒu liǎng ge cài méi shàng. [Pinyin]

     There're two dishes that haven't been served.

   • 上筆和紙來。／上笔和纸来。  ―  Shàng bǐ hé zhǐ lái.  ―  Give me the pen and the paper.
6. to attend (class, work)
   • 上班  ―  shàngbān  ―  to go to work
   • 她上夜校。  ―  Tā shàng yèxiào.  ―  She goes to night school.
7. to enter (a field); to appear (on stage, TV)
8. to fit; to install; to apply
   • 上油漆  ―  shàng yóuqī  ―  to apply paint
9. to screw; to tighten, to twist
10. (colloquial) Short for 上線 (“to go online”).
11. to connect to; browse (a website)
    • 上谷歌  ―  shàng Gǔgē  ―  to go on Google; to google
12. (Min) to pull upwards or hang with a rope
    • 上水 [Hokkien]  ―  chhiūⁿ-chúi [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]  ―  to draw water from a well
13. (Southern Min) to grow and attach
    • 上青苔 [Hokkien]  ―  chhiūⁿ chheⁿ-thî [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]  ―  to grow moss
14. (Xiamen Hokkien Southern Min) to pile up
    • 上貨／上货 [Hokkien]  ―  chhiūⁿ-hòe [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]  ―  to pile up goods
15. (vulgar, of a male) to fuck; to have intercourse with a female
16. Particle following verbs, indicating direction or achievement.
    • 安排上了。  ―  Ānpái shàng le.  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
17. 7th tetragram of the Taixuanjing; "ascension" (𝌌)

Pronunciation 3

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shǎng (shang³)

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄤˇ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): sang³

• Cantonese (Jyutping): soeng⁵
• Hakka (Sixian, PFS): sóng
• Eastern Min (BUC): siōng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): sióng / siáng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): siang⁶

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶zaon

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shǎng
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄤˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shǎng
    • Wade–Giles: shang³
    • Yale: shǎng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shaang
    • Palladius: шан (šan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɑŋ²¹⁴/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: sang³
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: sang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /saŋ⁵³/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: soeng⁵
    • Yale: séuhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng⁵
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ¹³/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sóng
    • Hakka Romanization System: song`
    • Hagfa Pinyim: song³
    • Sinological IPA: /soŋ³¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: siōng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /suoŋ³³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sióng
    • Tâi-lô: sióng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siorng
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɔŋ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /siɔŋ⁵³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siáng
    • Tâi-lô: siáng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siarng
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /siaŋ⁵³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: siang⁶
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siăng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siaŋ³⁵/
• Wu
  • (Shanghai):
    • Wugniu: ⁶zaon
    • MiniDict: zaon^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zaan
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zɑ̃²³/

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• Middle Chinese: dzyangX

Rime
Character	上
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	常 (25)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	時掌切
Baxter	dzyangX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨɐŋX/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɐŋX/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑiɑŋX/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨaŋX/
Li Rong	/ʑiaŋX/
Wang Li	/ʑĭaŋX/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯aŋX/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*Cə-daŋʔ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djaŋʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	上
Reading #	1/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shàng
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyangX ›
Old Chinese	/*Cə-daŋʔ/
English	ascend
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	上
Reading #	1/2
No.	11102
Phonetic component	上
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	上
Old Chinese	/*djaŋʔ/

Definitions

(deprecated template usage) 上

1. (～聲) (Chinese phonetics) rising tone in Chinese phonetics

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (上):

• → Japanese: 上(じょう) (jō)
• → Korean: 상(上) (sang)
• → Vietnamese: thượng (上)

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 上 – see 緔 (“to sole a shoe”). (This character is the second-round simplified form of 緔).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Etymology 3

For pronunciation and definitions of 上 – see 鞝. (This character is the second-round simplified form of 鞝).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Further reading

• “Entry #174”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.

(deprecated template usage)

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Japanese

Kanji

上

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

1. above, high, up
2. earlier
3. excellent, top
4. certain time or place in the past
5. limit
6. climb, rise
7. offer
8. go to the center
9. raise, bring up
10. one of the four tones of Middle Chinese
11. short for 上野国 (Kōzuke no kuni): Kōzuke Province

Readings

• Go-on: じょう (jō, Jōyō)^{←じやう (zyau, historical)}
• Kan-on: しょう (shō, Jōyō ^†)^{←しやう (syau, historical)}
• Sō-on: しゃん (shan)^{←しやん (syan, historical)}
• Kun: うえ (ue, 上, Jōyō); うわ (uwa, 上, Jōyō ^†); かみ (kami, 上, Jōyō); あげる (ageru, 上げる, Jōyō); あがる (agaru, 上がる, Jōyō); あがり (agari, 上がり); のぼる (noboru, 上る, Jōyō); のぼり (nobori, 上り); のぼせる (noboseru, 上せる, Jōyō); のぼす (nobosu, 上す, Jōyō); たてまつる (tatematsuru, 上る); ほとり (hotori, 上)
• Nanori: あおい (aoi); あげ (age); い (i); か (ka); かき (kaki); かず (kazu); かん (kan); こう (kō); のぼり (nobori); ほつ (hotsu)

Compounds

Compounds

• 上上(じょうじょう) (jōjō), 上々(じょうじょう) (jōjō)
• 上位(じょうい) (jōi)
• 上映(じょうえい) (jōei)
• 上演(じょうえん) (jōen)
• 上官(じょうかん) (jōkan)
• 上機(じょうき) (jōki)
• 上級(じょうきゅう) (jōkyū)
• 上京(じょうきょう) (jōkyō)
• 上空(じょうくう) (jōkū)
• 上下(じょうげ) (jōge)
• 上戸(じょうご) (jōgo)
• 上告(じょうこく) (jōkoku)
• 上司(じょうし) (jōshi)
• 上州(じょうしゅう) (Jōshū)
• 上旬(じょうじゅん) (jōjun)
• 上声(じょうしょう) (jōshō)
• 上昇(じょうしょう) (jōshō)
• 上場(じょうじょう) (jōjō)
• 上手(じょうず) (jōzu)
• 上声(じょうせい) (jōsei)
• 上船(じょうせん) (jōsen)
• 上層(じょうそう) (jōsō)
• 上奏(じょうそう) (jōsō)
• 上代(じょうだい) (jōdai)
• 上(じょう)達(たつ) (jōtatsu)
• 上段(じょうだん) (jōdan)
• 上等(じょうとう) (jōtō)
• 上人(しょうにん) (shōnin)
• 上納(じょうのう) (jōnō)
• 上品(じょうひん) (jōhin)
• 上部(じょうぶ) (jōbu)
• 上陸(じょうりく) (jōriku)
• 上流(じょうりゅう) (jōryū)
• 上林(じょうりん) (jōrin)
• 上石(あげいし) (ageishi)
• 平上(ひょうじょう)去入(きょにゅう) (hyōjōkyonyū)
• 上手(うま)い (umai)
• 上(シャン)海(ハイ) (Shanhai, “Shanghai”)
• 逆上(のぼ)せる (noboseru)
• 上枝(ほつえ) (hotsue)
• 嶺(リン)上(シャン)開(カイ)花(ホー) (rinshan kaihō)
• 嶺(リン)上(シャン)牌(パイ) (rinshanpai)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
上
うえ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

⟨upe₂⟩ → /*upai̯/ → /upe/ → /ufe/ → /uwe/ → /ue/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *upay.

Bound apophonic form of uwa, ancient upa (see below), possibly by fusion with an emphatic nominal particle い (i).

Noun

上(うえ) • (ue) ^{←うへ (ufe)?}

1. the above
2. the top (position or direction)
3. the surface of

Antonyms

• 下(した) (shita)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 上上(うえうえ), 上々(うえうえ) (ueue)
• 上方(うえざま) (ue-zama)
• 上杉(うえすぎ) (Uesugi)
• 上(うえ)野(の) (Ueno)
• 上(うえ)屋(や) (ueya)

Idioms

Idioms

• 上(うえ)に立(た)つ (ue ni tatsu)
• 上(うえ)には上(うえ)がある (ue ni wa ue ga aru)
• 上(うえ)見(み)ぬ鷲(わし) (ue minu washi)
• 上(うえ)を行(い)く (ue o iku)
• 上(うえ)を下(した)へ (ue o shita e)
• 上(うえ)を見(み)る (ue o miru)

Suffix

上(うえ) • (-ue) ^{←うへ (ufe)?}

1. suffix addressing to a superior

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 兄上(あにうえ) (ani-ue)
• 姉上(あねうえ) (ane-ue)
• 父上(ちちうえ) (chichi-ue)
• 母上(ははうえ) (haha-ue)

Proper noun

上(うえ) • (Ue) ^{←うへ (ufe)?}

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
上
うわ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

/upa/ → /ufa/ → /uwa/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *upa. The combining form of ue, ancient upe (see above).

Noun

上(うわ) • (uwa) ^{←うは (ufa)?}

1. upper, over

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 上上(うわうわ), 浮浮(うわうわ) (uwauwa)
• 上顎(うわあご) (uwaago)
• 上臼(うわうす) (uwausu)
• 上(うわ)絵(え) (uwae)
• 上(うわ)枝(えだ) (uwaeda)
• 上襟(うわえり), 上衿(うわえり), 上領(うわえり) (uwaeri)
• 上帯(うわおび) (uwaobi)
• 上掛(うわがけ), 上(うわ)掛(が)け (uwagake)
• 浮気(うわき) (uwaki)
• 上(うわ)着(ぎ) (uwagi)
• 上(うわ)衣(ぎ) (uwagi)
• 噂(うわさ) (uwasa)
• 上棚(うわだな), 上枻(うわだな) (uwadana)
• 上(うわ)手(て) (uwate)
• 上(うわ)剥(は)げ (uwahage)
• 後妻(うわなり) (uwanari)
• 上(うわ)荷(に) (uwani)
• 上(うわ)値(ね) (uwane)
• 上(うわ)歯(ば) (uwaba)
• 上履(うわばき), 上(うわ)履(ば)き (uwabaki)
• 上張(うわばり), 上(うわ)張(ば)り (uwabari)
• 上(うわ)翳(ひ) (uwahi)
• 上(うわ)辺(べ) (uwabe)
• 上(うわ)目(め) (uwame)
• 上(うわ)屋(や) (uwaya)

Proper noun

上(うわ) • (Uwa) ^{←うは (ufa)?}

1. a place name

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
上
へ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Kanji in this term
上
え Grade: 1
irregular

⟨upe₂⟩ → ⟨pe₂⟩ → */pe/ → /fe/ → /he/

Short-form of or shift from ue, ancient upe (see above). Realized as -e in some compounds.

Pronunciation

Usage notes

The senses are the same with ue.

Derived terms

• 尾上(おのえ) (onoe)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
上
かみ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

⟨kami₁⟩ → */kamʲi/ → /kami/

From Old Japanese. Already apparent in ancient texts such as the Kojiki (c. 712 CE) and the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE).

Distinct from 神 (⟨kami₂⟩ → kami, “Shinto deity”).

Noun

上(かみ) • (kami) 

1. the start
2. a high place; the top
3. one with higher rank

Antonyms

• 下(しも) (shimo)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 上(かみ)する (kamisuru)
• 守(かみ) (kami)
• 上(かみ)泉(いずみ) (kamīzumi)
• 上(かみ)一段(いちだん)活用(かつよう) (kami ichidan katsuyō)
• 上(かみ)一人(いちにん) (kami ichinin), 上(かみ)御(ご)一人(いちにん) (kami go-ichinin)
• 上(かみ)女(おんな) (kami-onna)
• 上(かみ)掛(がかり) (kami-gakari)
• 上方(かみがた) (kamigata)
• 上(かみ)御所(ごしょ) (kami gosho)
• 上様(かみざま) (kami-zama), 上方(かみざま) (kami-zama)
• 上下(かみしも) (kamishimo), 裃(かみしも) (kamishimo)
• 上(かみつ)毛野(けの) (Kamitsukeno), 上野(こうずけ) (Kōzuke)
• 上(かみつ)総(ふさ) (Kamitsufusa), 上総(かずさ) (Kazusa)
• 上(かみ)つ世(よ) (kami tsu yo), 上(かみ)つ代(よ) (kami tsu yo)
• 上(かみ)問(どい)屋(や) (kami-doiya)
• 上(かみ)長押(なげし) (kami nageshi)
• 上(かみ)二段(にだん)活用(かつよう) (kami nidan katsuyō)
• 上(かみ)の戸(と) (kami no to)
• 上(かみ)の間(ま) (kami no ma)
• 上(かみ)の町(まち) (kami no machi)
• 上機(かみはた) (kamihata)
• 上(かみ)辺(べ) (kamibe)
• 上(かみ)無(む) (kami mu)
• 上(かみ)無調(むちょう) (kami muchō)
• 石(いその)上(かみ) (Isonokami)
• 氏(うじ)の上(かみ) (Uji no Kami)
• 兄(このかみ) (konokami), 首(このかみ) (konokami), 氏上(このかみ) (konokami)

Idioms

Idioms

• 上(かみ)漏(も)り下(しも)潤(うるお)う (kami mori shimo uruou)
• 上(かみ)を学(まな)ぶ下(しも) (kami o manabu shimo)

Proper noun

上(かみ) • (Kami) 

1. a place name

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
上
かん Grade: 1
kun’yomi

/kami/ → /kamʉ/ → /kaɴ/

Contraction of Old Japanese ⟨kami₁⟩. Spelled in ancient works as かむ (kamu) prior to the development of the ん (n) kana.

Noun

上(かん) • (kan) 

1. (obsolete) Same as かみ (kami) above

Usage notes

Generally only found when followed by the genitive / possessive particles の (no) or つ (tsu).

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 上達(かんだち)部(べ) (kandachibe),
• 上(かん)林(ばやし) (Kanbayashi)
• 上牧(かんまき) (Kanmaki)

Proper noun

上(かん) • (Kan) 

1. a place name

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
上
じょう Grade: 1
goon

/d͡ʑɨau/ → /d͡ʑɔː/ → /d͡ʑoː/

From Middle Chinese 上 (MC dzyangX|dzyangH).

Pronunciation

• Pitch accent for suffix unknown.

Noun

上(じょう) • (jō) ^{←じやう (zyau)?}

1. the first volume in a two- or three-volume set

   Antonym: 下 (ge)

Suffix

上(じょう) • (-jō) ^{←じやう (zyau)?}

1. from the standpoint of...

   理(り)論(ろん)上(じょう)はありえないこと

   riron-jō wa arienai koto

   something that is impossible according to theory

   法(ほう)律(りつ)上(じょう)の争(そう)訟(ちょう)

   hōritsu-jō no sōchō

   legal dispute

2. aboard (a plane, ship, etc.)
3. above, in, on

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 鞍上(あんじょう) (anjō)
• 海上(かいじょう) (kaijō)
• 階上(かいじょう) (kaijō)
• 机上(きじょう) (kijō)
• 機上(きじょう) (kijō)
• 計上(けいじょう) (keijō)
• 啓上(けいじょう) (keijō)
• 最上(さいじょう) (saijō)
• 參上(さんじょう) (sanjō)
• 至上(しじょう) (shijō)
• 紙上(しじょう) (shijō)
• 史上(しじょう) (shijō)
• 誌上(しじょう) (shijō)
• 主上(しゅじょう) (shujō)
• 水上(すいじょう) (suijō)
• 線上(せんじょう) (senjō)
• 船上(せんじょう) (senjō)
• 壇上(だんじょう) (danjō)
• 地上(ちじょう) (chijō)
• 天上(てんじょう) (tenjō)
• 殿上(てんじょう) (tenjō)
• 馬上(ばじょう) (bajō)
• 盤上(ばんじょう) (banjō)
• 陸上(りくじょう) (rikujō)

Proper noun

上(じょう) • (Jō) ^{←じやう (zyau)?}

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Korean

Hanja

上 (eumhun 윗 상 (wit sang))

1. Hanja form^? of 상 (“top; first; best”).

Compounds

• 세상 (世上, sesang)
• 이상 (以上, isang)
• 정상 (頂上, jeongsang)
• 향상 (向上, hyangsang)

 

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Vietnamese

Han character

上: Hán Việt readings: thượng (時(thì)亮(lượng)切(thiết))
上: Nôm readings: thượng

1. Template:han tu form of

Compounds

• 上佐 (thượng tá)
• 上士 (thượng sĩ)
• 上將 (thượng tướng)
• 上尉 (thượng úy/thượng uý)
• 上層 (thượng tầng)
• 上流 (thượng lưu)
• 上游 (thượng du)
• 上行 (thượng hạng)
• 上議士 (thượng nghị sĩ)
• 上議院 (thượng nghị viện)
• 上院 (thượng viện)
• 上頂 (thượng đỉnh)
• 皇上 (hoàng thượng)