Word

上 (shàng) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

Meaning of 上

名 míng noun

top, upper part

从上到下都很干净。

cóng shàng dào xià dōu hěn gān jìng

From top to bottom, it's all very clean.

动 dòng verb

to go up

他上楼去了。

tā shàng lóu qù le

He went upstairs.

Word breakdown

上 shàng — top, upper part

1 上午 shàng wǔ — morning HSK 1
- 上 upper, first half (of the day)
- 午 noon, midday (as reference point)
Example

我上午有一个会议。

wǒ shàng wǔ yǒu yí gè huì yì

I have a meeting in the morning.
2 上学 shàng xué — to go to school HSK 1
- 上 to go to, to attend (directional verb indicating movement toward)
- 学 school, study
Example

我每天早上七点去上学。

wǒ měi tiān zǎo shang qī diǎn qù shàng xué

I go to school at 7 o'clock every morning.
3 上班 shàng bān — go to work HSK 1
- 上 to go to, to attend
- 班 work, work shift
Example

我每天早上八点上班。

wǒ měi tiān zǎo shang bā diǎn shàng bān

I go to work at 8 o'clock every morning.
4 上课 shàng kè — to attend class HSK 1
- 上 to go to, to attend
- 课 class, lesson
Example

我们每天早上八点上课。

wǒ men měi tiān zǎo shang bā diǎn shàng kè

We attend class at 8 o'clock every morning.
5 早上 zǎo shang — morning HSK 1
- 早 early
- 上 time suffix (forming 'morning')
Example

我每天早上六点起床。

wǒ měi tiān zǎo shang liù diǎn qǐ chuáng

I get up at six o'clock every morning.

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6 晚上 wǎn shang — evening, night HSK 1
- 晚 late, evening (time)
- 上 time period marker (forms a time word with 晚)
Example

我晚上要去看电影。

wǒ wǎn shang yào qù kàn diàn yǐng

I'm going to watch a movie in the evening.
7 上去 shàng qù — to go up HSK 2
- 上 upward direction
- 去 directional complement indicating movement away
Example

我们一起上去看看吧。

wǒ men yì qǐ shàng qù kàn kan ba

Let's go up together and take a look.
8 上来 shàng lái — to come up HSK 2
- 上 up, upward movement, to ascend
- 来 come, movement toward the speaker
Example

他从楼下上来了。

tā cóng lóu xià shàng lái le

He came up from downstairs.
9 上网 shàng wǎng — go online HSK 2
- 上 to get on, to access
- 网 internet, network
Example

我每天都上网看新闻。

wǒ měi tiān dōu shàng wǎng kàn xīn wén

I go online every day to read the news.
10 上面 shàng miàn — above; on top HSK 2
- 上 up; upper; above
- 面 surface; side
Example

书在桌子上面。

shū zài zhuō zi shàng miàn

The book is on the table.
11 网上 wǎng shàng — online HSK 2
- 网 network, internet
- 上 on, upon (indicating location)
Example

我喜欢在网上购物。

wǒ xǐ huan zài wǎng shàng gòu wù

I like to shop online.
12 路上 lù shang — on the road HSK 2
- 路 road, path, route
- 上 on, upon (indicating position on or state of traveling)
Example

他还在路上，马上就到。

tā hái zài lù shang mǎ shang jiù dào

He's still on the way, will arrive soon.
13 上衣 shàng yī — top, upper garment HSK 3
- 上 upper, top (position)
- 衣 clothing, garment
Example

她买了一件新上衣。

tā mǎi le yī jiàn xīn shàng yī

She bought a new top.
14 以上 yǐ shàng — above, more than HSK 3
- 以 from, starting from (indicates a reference point)
- 上 up, above (indicates upward direction or higher value)
Example

十八岁以上的人可以投票。

shí bā suì yǐ shàng de rén kě yǐ tóu piào

People 18 years and above can vote.
15 马上 mǎ shàng — immediately HSK 3
- 马 horse (part of idiom meaning 'immediately')
- 上 on/up (part of idiom meaning 'immediately')
Example

我马上就来。

wǒ mǎ shàng jiù lái

I'll come immediately.
16 上门 shàng mén — to come to someone's door, to visit someone at their home HSK 4
- 上 to go to, to approach
- 门 door, home (by extension)
Example

这家公司提供上门维修服务。

zhè jiā gōng sī tí gōng shàng mén wéi xiū fú wù

This company provides door-to-door repair service.
17 加上 jiā shàng — plus, in addition to HSK 4
- 加 add, addition
- 上 directional complement indicating addition or completion
Example

我喜欢这个工作，加上工资也不错。

wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge gōng zuò jiā shàng gōng zī yě bù cuò

I like this job, plus the salary is also good.
18 基本上 jī běn shàng — basically HSK 4
- 基 foundation, base (forms the base meaning of 'fundamental')
- 本 root, origin (reinforces the fundamental nature)
- 上 grammatical suffix (converts the adjective into an adverb)
Example

我基本上每天都锻炼。

wǒ jī běn shàng měi tiān dōu duàn liàn

I basically exercise every day.
19 实际上 shí jì shàng — actually HSK 4
- 实 real, actual
- 际 situation, circumstance (combines with 实 to mean 'actual situation')
- 上 on, upon (forms adverbial suffix meaning 'in terms of')
Example

这道题看起来很难，实际上很简单。

zhè dào tí kàn qǐ lái hěn nán shí jì shàng hěn jiǎn dān

This problem looks difficult, but actually it's simple.
20 线上 xiàn shàng — online HSK 4
- 线 line (network connection)
- 上 on, above (connected state)
Example

现在很多会议都是线上举行的。

xiàn zài hěn duō huì yì dōu shì xiàn shàng jǔ xíng de

Nowadays many meetings are held online.
21 赶上 gǎn shàng — catch up with HSK 4
- 赶 chase, hurry, rush toward
- 上 directional complement indicating successful reaching or attaining
Example

你快点，还能赶上火车。

nǐ kuài diǎn hái néng gǎn shàng huǒ chē

Hurry up, you can still catch the train.
22 上下 shàng xià — up and down; top and bottom; high and low HSK 5
- 上 up, upward, above
- 下 down, downward, below
Example

他上下打量了我一番。

tā shàng xià dǎ liàng le wǒ yī fān

He looked me up and down.
23 上传 shàng chuán — to upload HSK 5
- 上 up, upward (indicating direction from local to remote/server)
- 传 to transmit, to transfer (the action of sending data)
Example

我需要上传这些照片到云端。

wǒ xū yào shàng chuán zhè xiē zhào piàn dào yún duān

I need to upload these photos to the cloud.
24 上升 shàng shēng — to rise HSK 5
- 上 upward direction
- 升 to ascend
Example

太阳从东方上升。

tài yáng cóng dōng fāng shàng shēng

The sun rises from the east.
25 上涨 shàng zhǎng — to rise HSK 5
- 上 up, upward direction
- 涨 to increase, to swell
Example

房价又上涨了。

fáng jià yòu shàng zhǎng le

House prices have risen again.
26 向上 xiàng shàng — upward HSK 5
- 向 toward, in the direction of
- 上 up, above
Example

箭头向上指。

jiàn tóu xiàng shàng zhǐ

The arrow points upward.
27 天上 tiān shàng — in the sky HSK 5
- 天 sky, heaven
- 上 on, above, in (indicating position)
Example

天上有很多星星。

tiān shàng yǒu hěn duō xīng xing

There are many stars in the sky.
28 上台 shàng tái — go on stage; come to power HSK 6
- 上 to ascend, to go up
- 台 stage, platform
Example

他第一次上台演讲很紧张。

tā dì yī cì shàng tái yǎn jiǎng hěn jǐn zhāng

He was very nervous going on stage to speak for the first time.
29 上市 shàng shì — to go public, to be listed (on stock market) HSK 6
- 上 to go up, to enter
- 市 market
Example

这家公司计划明年上市。

zhè jiā gōng sī jì huà míng nián shàng shì

This company plans to go public next year.
30 上当 shàng dàng — be deceived HSK 6
- 上 fall into, be subjected to
- 当 trap, deception
Example

他在网上买东西上当了。

tā zài wǎng shàng mǎi dōng xi shàng dàng le

He was deceived when buying things online.
31 上旬 shàng xún — first ten days of a month HSK 6
- 上 first/upper (indicating the first part)
- 旬 ten-day period (division of a month)
Example

我们计划在五月上旬出发去旅行。

wǒ men jì huà zài wǔ yuè shàng xún chū fā qù lǚ xíng

We plan to depart for travel in early May.
32 上级 shàng jí — superior HSK 6
- 上 above, upper
- 级 level, rank
Example

我需要向上级汇报这个问题。

wǒ xū yào xiàng shàng jí huì bào zhè ge wèn tí

I need to report this issue to my superior.
33 上进 shàng jìn — to be motivated/ambitious HSK 6
- 上 upward, ascending, improving
- 进 advance, progress forward
Example

他是一个很上进的学生。

tā shì yí gè hěn shàng jìn de xué shēng

He is a very motivated student.
34 上述 shàng shù — aforementioned HSK 6
- 上 above, preceding
- 述 stated, mentioned
Example

根据上述分析，我们可以得出结论。

gēn jù shàng shù fēn xī wǒ men kě yǐ dé chū jié lùn

Based on the aforementioned analysis, we can draw a conclusion.
35 成千上万 chéng qiān shàng wàn — thousands upon thousands HSK 6
- 成 reaching, amounting to
- 千 thousand
- 上 up to, above
- 万 ten thousand
Example

成千上万的人参加了这次活动。

chéng qiān shàng wàn de rén cān jiā le zhè cì huó dòng

Thousands upon thousands of people participated in this event.
36 上任 shàng rèn — to take office HSK 7
- 上 to ascend to, to assume
- 任 position, office, post
Example

新总统明天上任。

xīn zǒng tǒng míng tiān shàng rèn

The new president takes office tomorrow.
37 上半场 shàng bàn chǎng — first half HSK 7
- 上 first, upper
- 半 half
- 场 match, game
Example

上半场结束时比分是1比0。

shàng bàn chǎng jié shù shí bǐ fēn shì yī bǐ líng

The score was 1-0 at the end of the first half.
38 上司 shàng sī — superior, boss HSK 7
- 上 upper, above (indicating higher hierarchical position)
- 司 to manage, to oversee (indicating managerial role)
Example

我需要向上司汇报这件事。

wǒ xū yào xiàng shàng sī huì bào zhè jiàn shì

I need to report this matter to my superior.
39 上场 shàng chǎng — to go on stage HSK 7
- 上 to go up, to ascend onto
- 场 stage, field, arena
Example

轮到你上场了。

lún dào nǐ shàng chǎng le

It's your turn to go on stage.
40 上层 shàng céng — upper layer, upper level HSK 7
- 上 upper, above, top
- 层 layer, level, stratum
Example

这座建筑的上层是办公室。

zhè zuò jiàn zhù de shàng céng shì bàn gōng shì

The upper floors of this building are offices.
41 上岗 shàng gǎng — to go on duty HSK 7
- 上 to go to, to ascend to (indicating the action of going to one's position)
- 岗 post, station (one's work position or duty station)
Example

所有保安必须按时上岗。

suǒyǒu bǎo'ān bìxū ànshí shàng gǎng

All security guards must go on duty on time.
42 上报 shàng bào — report to higher authorities HSK 7
- 上 upward, to a higher level
- 报 report, inform
Example

我们需要把这个问题上报给总部。

wǒ men xū yào bǎ zhè ge wèn tí shàng bào gěi zǒng bù

We need to report this issue to headquarters.
43 上映 shàng yìng — to screen, to release (a film) HSK 7
- 上 to come onto, to appear on (screen)
- 映 to project, to show (images)
Example

这部电影下周上映。

zhè bù diàn yǐng xià zhōu shàng yìng

This film will be released next week.
44 上游 shàng yóu — upstream HSK 7
- 上 upper, above
- 游 flow, course (of water)
Example

这个工厂位于河流的上游。

zhè ge gōng chǎng wèi yú hé liú de shàng yóu

This factory is located upstream of the river.
45 上演 shàng yǎn — to stage; to perform HSK 7
- 上 to go on; onto (stage)
- 演 to perform; to act
Example

这部经典歌剧将在国家大剧院上演。

zhè bù jīng diǎn gē jù jiāng zài guó jiā dà jù yuàn shàng yǎn

This classic opera will be performed at the National Theatre.
46 上火 shàng huǒ — get internal heat HSK 7
- 上 to go up, to ascend
- 火 fire, heat
Example

吃太多辣的容易上火。

chī tài duō là de róng yì shàng huǒ

Eating too much spicy food easily causes internal heat.
47 上瘾 shàng yǐn — to become addicted HSK 7
- 上 to go up to/to reach (indicates achieving a state)
- 瘾 addiction/craving
Example

很多人看手机容易上瘾。

hěn duō rén kàn shǒu jī róng yì shàng yǐn

Many people easily become addicted to looking at their phones.
48 上空 shàng kōng — sky above HSK 7
- 上 above, upper
- 空 sky, airspace
Example

飞机在城市上空飞过。

fēi jī zài chéng shì shàng kōng fēi guò

A plane flew over the city.
49 上行 shàng xíng — go up HSK 7
- 上 upward, ascending
- 行 movement, travel
Example

电梯开始上行到十楼。

diàn tī kāi shǐ shàng xíng dào shí lóu

The elevator starts going up to the tenth floor.
50 上诉 shàng sù — to appeal HSK 7
- 上 upward; to a higher court
- 诉 legal complaint; lawsuit
Example

律师建议我们上诉。

lǜ shī jiàn yì wǒ men shàng sù

The lawyer advised us to appeal.
51 上调 shàng tiáo — to raise, to increase, to adjust upward HSK 7
- 上 upward, up
- 调 adjust, regulate
Example

政府决定上调最低工资标准。

zhèng fǔ jué dìng shàng tiáo zuì dī gōng zī biāo zhǔn

The government decided to raise the minimum wage standard.
52 上限 shàng xiàn — upper limit HSK 7
- 上 upper, above
- 限 limit, boundary
Example

公司设定了加班时间的上限。

gōng sī shè dìng le jiā bān shí jiān de shàng xiàn

The company set an upper limit on overtime hours.
53 不相上下 bù xiāng shàng xià — evenly matched; about the same; comparable HSK 7
- 不 not; negation marker
- 相 mutually; each other
- 上 up; above; superior
- 下 down; below; inferior
Example

这两支球队的水平不相上下，比赛非常激烈。

zhè liǎng zhī qiú duì de shuǐ píng bù xiāng shàng xià bǐ sài fēi cháng jī liè

These two teams are evenly matched, so the game is very intense.
54 皇上 huáng shàng — Your Majesty HSK 7
- 皇 emperor, imperial
- 上 above, superior (honorific suffix)
Example

皇上今天很高兴。

huáng shàng jīn tiān hěn gāo xìng

Your Majesty is very happy today.
55 纸上谈兵 zhǐ shàng tán bīng — armchair strategy; to be an armchair strategist HSK 7
- 纸 paper (representing theoretical/written work)
- 上 on (indicates the location where discussion happens)
- 谈 discuss, talk about (theoretical discussion)
- 兵 military strategy, warfare (the subject of discussion)
Example

不要纸上谈兵，应该多实践。

bù yào zhǐ shàng tán bīng yīng gāi duō shí jiàn

Don't be an armchair strategist; you should practice more.
56 说不上 shuō bu shàng — can't say HSK 7
- 说 to say, to speak
- 不 not (negation)
- 上 resultative complement indicating inability to achieve
Example

他的年龄我说不上。

tā de nián líng wǒ shuō bu shàng

I can't say his age.
57 锦上添花 jǐn shàng tiān huā — to make something good even better; icing on the cake HSK 7
- 锦 brocade; represents something already beautiful or valuable
- 上 on, upon; indicates the position where something is added
- 添 add, increase; the action of adding enhancement
- 花 flower; represents additional beauty or embellishment
Example

她的演讲已经很精彩了，配上精美的PPT更是锦上添花。

tā de yǎn jiǎng yǐ jīng hěn jīng cǎi le pèi shàng jīng měi de PPT gèng shì jǐn shàng tiān huā

Her speech was already excellent, and the beautiful PPT made it even better.
58 雪上加霜 xuě shàng jiā shuāng — to add insult to injury HSK 7
- 雪 snow (representing the initial misfortune)
- 上 on top (indicating position)
- 加 add (the action of adding more trouble)
- 霜 frost (representing additional hardship)
Example

他生病了，雪上加霜的是还丢了工作。

tā shēng bìng le xuě shàng jiā shuāng de shì hái diū le gōng zuò

He got sick, and to add insult to injury, he also lost his job.

Structure & writing

1 上 shàng — upper; high position (opposite of 下); ① preceding in order ② higher in rank or quality

上 is a component in 4 characters

HSK 2

让 ràng yield; give way to others when both parties need something

HSK 3

卡 kǎ truck; large freight vehicle 叔 shū father's younger brother; also a form of address for a man of the same generation as one's father but younger and unrelated (can be reduplicated)

HSK 4

戚 qi

上 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

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Meaning of 上

上 shàng — top, upper part