上 (shàng) - up & above
上 · shàng
up;
above;
upper;
previous;
first (volume, etc.
);
to go up;
to attend (class, etc.
);
to go to;
to board;
to present;
to submit;
to apply (powder, paint, etc.
);
to record;
to enter;
to be installed;
to wind (a clock);
to be engaged (in work, etc.
);
used after a verb to indicate completion or attainment;
(in music) note 1 in gongche notation
upaboveupper
Usage highlights
upstairsgo to schoolgo to worksuperiorupwardget on a vehicle
Usage & contexts
Examples
- Please go upstairs (上楼).
- This is the first volume (上册).
- He attends class (上课).
- The sun rises (太阳上升).
- Apply medicine (上药).
Collocations
- upstairs(楼上)
- go to school(上学)
- go to work(上班)
- superior(上级)
- upward(向上)
- get on a vehicle(上车)
Idioms
- To go against the current(逆水行舟，不进则退)
- To advance bravely(勇往直前)
- To rise step by step(步步高升)
- To go up the hall and enter the chamber(登堂入室)
- To rise abruptly(青云直上)
Cultural background
FAQ- In traditional Chinese cosmology, 'above' (上) is associated with heaven, yang, and the emperor.
- Used in historical contexts to refer to the emperor or superior officials (e.g., 皇上).
- In the I Ching, the upper trigram represents external circumstances or the future.