上
above · up
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Indicative character with a dot above a baseline.
Symbolism
Improvement, superiority, heaven. Represents aspiration to aim higher.
Component Breakdown
⺊ + one
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
上意下達
じょういかたつ
conveying the will of the governing to the governed; top-down (system)
至上命令
しじょうめいれい
unconditional command; must-obey order
下意上達
かいじょうたつ
conveyance of the views of those below to those at the top
屋上架屋
おくじょうかおく
gilding the lily; adding redundant things
蝸牛角上
かぎゅうかくじょう
trifling (fight); (a conflict) between small countries
貴賤上下
きせんしょうか
high and low; (people of) all ranks and classes
一上一下
いちじょういちげ
going up and down
一筆啓上
いっぴつけいじょう
this will just be a short note; I'm writing to tell you
汚名返上
おめいへんじょう
clearing one's name; redeeming oneself; restoring one's honor
錦上添花
きんじょうてんか
adding a crowning touch of beauty (to); giving added luster (to); crowning beauty (honor, grace) with even greater glory
史上空前
しじょうくうぜん
unprecedented in history; unheard-of; epoch-making
天上天下
てんじょうてんげ
the whole world; throughout heaven and earth
盗人上戸
ぬすびとじょうご
person who likes alcohol and sweets equally well; person who can drink much alcohol without becoming tipsy
下学上達
かがくじょうたつ
beginning one's studies with something familiar and gradually increasing the depth of learning
Proverbs & Idioms
上には上がある
うえにはうえがある
There is always someone above
No matter how good you are, there is always someone better
上を下への大騒ぎ
うえをしたへのおおさわぎ
Great commotion turning everything upside down
Complete chaos and confusion
Poetry
五月雨をあつめて早し最上川
Gathering the rains of the fifth month, the Mogami runs fast.
花の雲鐘は上野か浅草か
A cloud of blossom — is that bell Ueno, or Asakusa?
冬の日や馬上に氷る影法師
A winter day — and on horseback, my own shadow frozen.
しばらくは花の上なる月夜かな
For a while yet, a moonlit night resting above the blossoms.
Anime & Manga
盾の勇者の成り上がり
The Rising of the Shield Hero
A well-known work with 上 in its Japanese title.
ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ
Classroom of the Elite
A well-known work with 上 in its Japanese title.
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 上 in its Japanese title.
崖の上のポニョ
Ponyo
A well-known work with 上 in its Japanese title.
からかい上手の高木さん
Teasing Master Takagi-san
A well-known work with 上 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
上皇后美智子
Name contains 上
Michiko is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who has been the Empress Emerita of Japan since 1 May 2019.
Wikipedia上杉謙信
Name contains 上
Nagao Kagetora , later known as Uesugi Kenshin , was a Japanese daimyō .
Wikipedia村上天皇
Name contains 上
Emperor Murakami was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia川上弘美
Name contains 上
Hiromi Kawakami is a Japanese writer, known for her off-beat fiction, poetry, and literary criticism.
WikipediaFrequently Asked Questions
What does 上 mean in Japanese?
上 means above, up.
How do you read 上?
On'yomi: ジョウ、ショウ、シャン (JOU, SHOU, SHAN). Kun'yomi: うえ、-うえ、うわ-、かみ、あ.げる、-あ.げる、あ.がる、-あ.がる、あ.がり、-あ.がり、のぼ.る、のぼ.り、のぼ.せる、のぼ.す、たてまつ.る (ue, ue, uwa, kami, ageru, ageru, agaru, agaru, agari, agari, noboru, nobori, noboseru, nobosu, tatematsuru).
How many strokes does 上 have?
上 has 3 strokes. Its radical is 一 (one).
Is 上 a good kanji for a tattoo?
上 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means above, up. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.