上下

Chinese

		up; on; on top up; on; on top; upon; first; previous or last; upper; higher; above; previous; to climb; to go into; to go up	under; next; lower under; next; lower; below; underneath; down(wards); to go down; latter
simp. and trad. (上下)		上	下

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): shàngxià

  (Zhuyin): ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): soeng⁶ haa^6-2, soeng⁶ haa⁶
• Hakka (Sixian, PFS): song-ha / song-hâ / sông-hâ
• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): siōng-hǎ / siōng-hā / siāng-hēe

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shàngxià
    • Zhuyin: ㄕㄤˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shàngsià
    • Wade–Giles: shang⁴-hsia⁴
    • Yale: shàng-syà
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shanqshiah
    • Palladius: шанся (šansja)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: soeng⁶ haa^6-2, soeng⁶ haa⁶
    • Yale: seuhng há, seuhng hah
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng⁶ haa^6-2, soeng⁶ haa⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng⁶ ha^6-2, sêng⁶ ha⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ²² haː²²⁻³⁵/, /sœːŋ²² haː²²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: song-ha / song-hâ / sông-hâ
    • Hakka Romanization System: song ha / song ha´ / song´ ha´
    • Hagfa Pinyim: song⁴ ha⁴ / song⁴ ha¹ / song¹ ha¹
    • Sinological IPA: /soŋ⁵⁵ ha⁵⁵/, /soŋ⁵⁵ ha²⁴/, /soŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ha²⁴/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siōng-hǎ
    • Tâi-lô: siōng-hǎ
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /siɔŋ⁴¹⁻²² ha²²/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siōng-hā
    • Tâi-lô: siōng-hā
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sioxngha
    • IPA (Xiamen): /siɔŋ²²⁻²¹ ha²²/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siāng-hēe
    • Tâi-lô: siāng-hēe
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /siaŋ²²⁻²¹ hɛ²²/

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyangX|dzyangH haeX|haeH

Rime
Character	上	上	下	下
Reading #	1/2	2/2	1/2	2/2
Initial (聲)	常 (25)	常 (25)	匣 (33)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)	陽 (105)	麻 (98)	麻 (98)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)	Departing (H)	Rising (X)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	III	II	II
Fanqie	時掌切	時亮切	胡雅切	胡駕切
Baxter	dzyangX	dzyangH	haeX	haeH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨɐŋX/	/d͡ʑɨɐŋH/	/ɦˠaX/	/ɦˠaH/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɐŋX/	/d͡ʑiɐŋH/	/ɦᵚaX/	/ɦᵚaH/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑiɑŋX/	/d͡ʑiɑŋH/	/ɣaX/	/ɣaH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨaŋX/	/d͡ʑɨaŋH/	/ɦaɨX/	/ɦaɨH/
Li Rong	/ʑiaŋX/	/ʑiaŋH/	/ɣaX/	/ɣaH/
Wang Li	/ʑĭaŋX/	/ʑĭaŋH/	/ɣaX/	/ɣaH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯aŋX/	/ʑi̯aŋH/	/ɣaX/	/ɣaH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shàng	shàng	xià	xià
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng6	soeng6	haa6	haa6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*Cə-daŋʔ|m-daŋʔ|daŋʔ-s  ɡˤraʔ|m-ɡˤraʔ-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djaŋʔ|djaŋs  ɡraːʔ|ɡraːs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	上	上	上	下	下
Reading #	1/3	2/3	3/3	1/2	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shàng	shàng	shàng	xià	xià
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyangX ›	‹ dzyangX ›	‹ dzyangH ›	‹ hæX ›	‹ hæH ›
Old Chinese	/*Cə-daŋʔ/	/*m-daŋʔ/	/*daŋʔ-s/	/*ɡˁraʔ/	/*m-ɡˁraʔ-s/
English	ascend	to put up	top, above (n.)	down	descend
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	上	下	下
Reading #	1/2	2/2	1/2	2/2
No.	11102	11103	13445	13446
Phonetic component	上	上	下	下
Rime group	陽	陽	魚	魚
Rime subdivision	0	0	0	0
Corresponding MC rime	上	尚	下	暇
Old Chinese	/*djaŋʔ/	/*djaŋs/	/*ɡraːʔ/	/*ɡraːs/

Noun

上下

1. high and low
2. from top to bottom
3. up and down
4. old and young
5. relative superiority or inferiority

Synonyms

• (high and low): 高低 (gāodī), 高下 (gāoxià), (Hokkien) 懸低／悬低

Adverb

上下

1. (after round numbers) about; or so; thereabouts

Synonyms

• 光景 (guāngjǐng)
• 前後／前后 (qiánhòu) (of a point in or period of time)
• 參差／参差 (cēncī) (literary)
• 大抵 (dàdǐ)
• 大概 (dàgài)
• 大率 (dàshuài) (literary)
• 大約／大约 (dàyuē)
• 大約摸／大约摸 (dàyuēmō) (colloquial)
• 大致 (dàzhì)
• 左右 (zuǒyòu)
• 模樣／模样
• 無慮／无虑 (wúlǜ) (literary)
• 約摸／约摸 (yuēmo)
• 約略／约略 (yuēlüè)

 

Verb

上下

1. to go up and down

Derived terms

• 上下一心
• 上上下下 (shàngshàngxiàxià)
• 上下交困
• 上下其手 (shàngxiàqíshǒu)
• 上下同心
• 上下左右 (shàngxiàzuǒyòu)
• 上下床 (shàngxiàchuáng)
• 上下文 (shàngxiàwén)
• 上下爭輝／上下争辉
• 上下相安
• 不相上下 (bùxiāngshàngxià)
• 差不上下
• 打牆板兒翻上下／打墙板儿翻上下
• 沒上下／没上下
• 舉國上下／举国上下 (jǔguóshàngxià)
• 通身上下

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (上下):

• → Japanese: 上(じょう)下(げ) (jōge); 上(しょう)下(か) (shōka)
• → Korean: 상하(上下) (sangha)

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(がり) Grade: 1	お(り) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上(あ)がり (agari, “rising, going up”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 上(あ)がる (agaru, “to rise, to go up”)) + 下(お)り (ori, “descending, going down”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 下(お)りる (oriru, “to descend, to go down”)).

Alternative forms

• 上がり下り, 上がり降り

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あがり​おり [àgáríꜜòrì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡa̠ɾʲio̞ɾʲi]

Noun

上(あがり)下(おり) • (agariori) 

1. ascending and descending, ascent and descent

Verb

上(あがり)下(さがり)する • (agarisagari suru) suru (stem 上(あがり)下(さがり)し (agarisagari shi), past 上(あがり)下(さがり)した (agarisagari shita))

1. to ascend and descend, to go up and go down

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(がり) Grade: 1	さ(がり) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上(あ)がり (agari, “rising, going up”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 上(あ)がる (agaru, “to rise, to go up”)) + 下(さ)がり (sagari, “coming down, hanging down”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 下(さ)がる (sagaru, “to come down, to hang down”)).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あがり​さがり [àgáríꜜsàgàrì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• (Tokyo) あがりさがり [àgáríságárí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡa̠ɾʲisa̠ɡa̠ɾʲi]

Noun

上(あがり)下(さがり) • (agarisagari) 

1. rise and fall, fluctuation (as a level of something, such as a price)

Verb

上(あがり)下(さがり)する • (agarisagari suru) suru (stem 上(あがり)下(さがり)し (agarisagari shi), past 上(あがり)下(さがり)した (agarisagari shita))

1. to rise and fall, to fluctuate (as a level of something, such as a price)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	お(ろし) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上げ (age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下ろし (oroshi, “lowering, bringing down”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下ろす orosu, “to lower something, to bring something down”).

Alternative forms

• 上げ下ろし, 揚げ卸し

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あげおろし [àgéóróshí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡe̞o̞ɾo̞ɕi]

Noun

上(あげ)下(おろし) • (ageoroshi) 

1. raising and lowering of something
2. loading and unloading (as of the cargo in a ship)
3. weaving on a loom (from the way the warp is raised and lowered)

Idioms

Idioms

• 箸(はし)の上(あ)げ下(お)ろしにも文句(もんく)を言(い)う (hashi no ageoroshi ni mo monku o iu): “to complain about [how someone] raises and lowers their chopsticks” → to be extremely fastidious and nitpicky

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	くだ(し) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上げ (age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下だし (kudashi, “putting something down; passing something through one's gut”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下す kudasu, “to put something down; to pass something through one's gut”).

Alternative forms

• 上げ下し

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あげくだし [àgékúdáshí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡe̞kɯ̟ᵝda̠ɕi]

Noun

上(あげ)下(くだし) • (agekudashi) 

1. bringing something back up and passing something → vomiting and having diarrhea

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	さ(げ) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上げ (age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下げ (sage, “lowering something, hanging something down”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下げる sageru, “to lower something, to hang something down”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あげ​さげ [àgéꜜsàgè] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡe̞sa̠ɡe̞]

Noun

上(あげ)下(さげ) • (agesage) 

1. raising and lowering of something
2. (more specifically) the raising and lowering of prices
3. praising and berating someone
4. good times and bad times, thick and thin, ups and downs
5. the start and finish of something (such as the process of setting a table for a meal, and then clearing up afterwards)
6. the ebb and flow of the tides

Idioms

Idioms

• 上(あ)げ下(さ)げを取(と)る (agesage o toru): “to take [get] the ups and downs” → to match the rhythms of a partner in doing something

Verb

上(あげ)下(さげ)する • (agesage suru) suru (stem 上(あげ)下(さげ)し (agesage shi), past 上(あげ)下(さげ)した (agesage shita))

1. to raise and lower something
2. (more specifically) to raise and lower prices
3. to praise and berate someone
4. to start and finish something (such as the process of setting a table for a meal, and then clearing up afterwards)
5. to ebb and flow, such as the tides

Etymology 6

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

Compound of 上 (ue, “up”) +‎ 下 (shita, “down”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) うえ​した [ùéꜜshìtà] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ᵝe̞ɕita̠]

Noun

上(うえ)下(した) • (ueshita) ^{←うへした (ufesita)?}

1. up and down, the upper and the lower
2. the nobility and the commoners
3. (in reference to western-style clothing) upper clothing (such as shirts and jackets) and lower clothing (such as trousers and socks)
4. outerwear and underwear
5. upside-down

Idioms

Idioms

• 上下(うえした)の合方(あいかた) (ueshita no aikata): “up and down accompaniment [music]” → a kind of music played during kabuki performances, where one person plays samisen, another sings the low part, and another sings the high part

Synonyms

• (upside-down): 逆様(さかさま) (sakasama)

Etymology 7

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

Compound of 上 (kami, “up, upper; first”) +‎ 下 (shimo, “down, lower; last”).

Pronunciation 1

• (Tokyo) か​みしも [káꜜmìshìmò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠mʲiɕimo̞]

Noun

上(かみ)下(しも) • (kamishimo) 

1. the upper and the lower
   1. (more specifically) upstream and downstream
   2. (more specifically) upstage and downstage
   3. (more specifically) high status and low status
   4. (more specifically) the city and the countryside
   5. (more specifically) the upper body and the lower body
   6. (more specifically) the first three lines and the last two lines of a traditional waka poem
   7. (more specifically) the first half the last half of a month
2. various things

Pronunciation 2

• (Tokyo) かみしも [kàmíshímó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠mʲiɕimo̞]

Alternative forms

• 裃

Noun

上(かみ)下(しも) • (kamishimo) 

1. (traditional Japanese clothing) the robe and hakama as a set
2. (by extension) extreme formality

Etymology 8

Kanji in this term
上	下
か(り) Grade: 1	め(り) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上り (kari, “rising in tone”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る karu, “to rise in tone”) +‎ 下り (meri, “falling in tone”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下る meru, “to fall in tone”).

Alternative forms

• 上り下り, 甲乙

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) かりめり [kàrímérí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠ɾʲime̞ɾʲi]

Noun

上(かり)下(めり) • (karimeri) 

1. (music) a rise in tone and a fall in tone

Verb

上(かり)下(めり)する • (karimeri suru) suru (stem 上(かり)下(めり)し (karimeri shi), past 上(かり)下(めり)した (karimeri shita))

1. (music) to rise and fall in tone

Etymology 9

Kanji in this term
上	下
しょう Grade: 1	か Grade: 1
on’yomi

/ɕauka/ → /ɕɔːka/ → /ɕoːka/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 (dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Cantonese reading soeng⁶ haa⁶ or Hakka song-ha.

The kan'on, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) しょ​ーか [shóꜜòkà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɕo̞ːka̠]

Noun

上(しょう)下(か) • (shōka) ^{←しやうか (syauka)?}

1. up and down
2. the upper and the lower (especially, the rulers and the ruled)
3. rising and falling
4. an exchange of opinions

Verb

上(しょう)下(か)する • (shōka suru) ^{←しやうか (syauka)?}suru (stem 上(しょう)下(か)し (shōka shi), past 上(しょう)下(か)した (shōka shita))

1. to rise and fall
2. to exchange opinions

Etymology 10

Kanji in this term
上	下
じょう Grade: 1	か Grade: 1
on’yomi

/d͡ʑauka/ → /d͡ʑɔːka/ → /d͡ʑoːka/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 (dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Min Nan alternative reading chiūⁿ hā.

A mixed reading, using the goon of jō and the kan'on of ka.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じょ​ーか [jóꜜòkà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ːka̠]

Noun

上(じょう)下(か) • (jōka) ^{←じやうか (zyauka)?}

1. up and down
2. high grade and low grade
3. the upper and lower houses of the Diet or parliament
4. ascending and descending, climbing up and climbing down

Verb

上(じょう)下(か)する • (jōka suru) ^{←じやうか (zyauka)?}suru (stem 上(じょう)下(か)し (jōka shi), past 上(じょう)下(か)した (jōka shita))

1. to ascend and descend, to climb up and climb down

Etymology 11

Kanji in this term
上	下
じょう Grade: 1	げ Grade: 1
on’yomi

/d͡ʑauɡe/ → /d͡ʑɔːɡe/ → /d͡ʑoːɡe/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 (dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Cantonese reading soeng⁶ haa⁶, Hakka song-ha, or Min Nan alternative reading chiūⁿ hā.

The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じょ​ーげ [jóꜜògè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ːɡe̞]

Noun

上(じょう)下(げ) • (jōge) ^{←じやうげ (zyauge)?}

1. the high and the low, the upper and the lower
2. (clothing) a suit, a set of clothing consisting of garments for the upper and lower body
3. rising and falling, ascent and descent
4. the city and the country (the city is considered “up”)
5. north and south (north is considered “up”)
6. volumes one and two of a two-volume book or other document
7. roundtrip travel on a river, going both upstream and downstream
8. high rank and low rank
9. the nobility and the commoners
10. the lord and the ministers
11. the old and the young
12. an exchange of words, a discussion, question and answer

Synonyms

• (high and low): 高低(こうてい) (kōtei)
• (high and low in a rank; nobility and commoners): 貴賎(きせん) (kisen)
• (rise and fall): 起伏(きふく) (kifuku)
• (old and young): 老少(ろうしょう) (rōshō), 長幼(ちょうよう) (chōyō)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 上下向(じょうげこう) (jōgekō): travelling to the city from the country and travelling to the country from the city
• 上下水道(じょうげすいどう) (jōge suidō): water and sewer pipes, water and sewer services
• 上下付(じょうげづ)け (jōgezuke), 上下付(じょうげづけ) (jōgezuke): a kind of poetry game where either the first and last lines of a haiku are provided and the players must invent an appropriate middle line, or the first two kana are provided and the players must also use these as the last two kana, and invent an appropriate middle
• 上下動(じょうげどう) (jōgedō): vertical movement, such as during an earthquake
• 上下二連銃(じょうげにれんじゅう) (jōge niren jū): an over/under shotgun

Verb

上(じょう)下(げ)する • (jōge suru) ^{←じやうげ (zyauge)?}suru (stem 上(じょう)下(げ)し (jōge shi), past 上(じょう)下(げ)した (jōge shita))

1. to rise and fall, to ascend and descend
2. to travel roundtrip on a river, going both upstream and downstream
3. to exchange words, to discuss, to question and answer

Etymology 12

Kanji in this term
上	下
のぼ(り) Grade: 1	お(り) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上ぼり (nobori, “climbing, going up”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る noboru, “to climb, to go up”) +‎ 下り (ori, “descending, going down”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下りる oriru, “to descend, to go down”).

Alternative forms

• 上ぼり下り, 上り下り

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) のぼり​おり [nòbóríꜜòrì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [no̞bo̞ɾʲio̞ɾʲi]

Noun

上(のぼり)下(おり) • (noboriori) 

1. ascending and descending, climbing and coming back down (particularly as of a person or thing travelling or moving up and down, such as stairs or levels)

Verb

上(のぼり)下(おり)する • (noboriori suru) suru (stem 上(のぼり)下(おり)し (noboriori shi), past 上(のぼり)下(おり)した (noboriori shita))

1. to ascend and descend, to climb and come back down (particularly as of a person or thing travelling or moving up and down, such as stairs or levels)

Etymology 13

Kanji in this term
上	下
のぼ(り) Grade: 1	くだ(り) Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Compound of 上ぼり (nobori, “climbing, going up”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る noboru, “to climb, to go up”) +‎ 下り (kudari, “descending, coming down”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下る kudaru, “to descend a path, to come down a path”).

Alternative forms

• 上り下り

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) のぼりくだり [nòbóríkúdárí] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) のぼり​くだり [nòbóríꜜkùdàrì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [no̞bo̞ɾʲikɯ̟ᵝda̠ɾʲi]

Noun

上(のぼり)下(くだり) • (noborikudari) 

1. climbing up and climbing down (particularly as of a person or path travelling or moving up and down, such as a road going uphill and downhill in the mountains)
2. going upstream and downstream (such as on a river, or on a highway with “up” indicating towards a city)

Verb

上(のぼり)下(くだり)する • (noborikudari suru) suru (stem 上(のぼり)下(くだり)し (noborikudari shi), past 上(のぼり)下(くだり)した (noborikudari shita))

1. to climb up and climb down
2. to go upstream and downstream (such as on a river, or on a highway with “up” indicating towards a city)