Onyomi: シャン, ショウ, ジョウ · Kunyomi: -あ.がり, -あ.がる, -あ.げる, -うえ, あ.がり, あ.がる, あ.げる, うえ, うわ-, かみ, たてまつ.る, のぼ.す, のぼ.せる, のぼ.り, のぼ.る · Meanings: above, up
Kanji for above, up
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The kanji 上 comes from an ancient drawing showing a short line positioned above a horizontal ground line. In oracle bone script, this image simply indicated “something placed higher” or “rising above the ground.” It represented height, elevation, and superiority — both in position and status. Over time, this simple symbol came to mean “up,” “above,” or “to rise.” It also carried the extended meanings of advancement, improvement, and being higher in rank or quality.
Depicts a line placed above the ground line — a clear image of something higher or elevated. 上 represents the ideas of up, above, rise, or advancement.
This kanji declares: the stroke stands above the line — 上 means up, rise, or superior, showing what is higher or lifted above all else.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 上 | うえ | above, over, up | common JLPT-N5 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 上 | じょう | from the standpoint of, from the viewpoint of, with respect to, in terms of, as a matter of, in view of, so far as ... is concerned | common JLPT-N3 Suffix |
| 上 | かみ | upper reaches (of a river), upper stream | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 上 | うわ | upper, upward, outer, surface, top | Noun, Prefix |
| 上げる | あげる | to raise, to elevate | common JLPT-N4 JLPT-N2 JLPT-N5 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 上手 | じょうず | skillful, skilled, proficient, good (at), adept, clever | common JLPT-N5 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 上る | のぼる | to ascend, to go up, to climb | common JLPT-N3 JLPT-N2 JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 上着 | うわぎ | coat, jacket, outerwear | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 上がる | あがる | to rise, to go up, to come up, to ascend, to be raised | common JLPT-N4 JLPT-N1 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 上京 | じょうきょう | going (up) to the capital, going to Tokyo | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |