上 — how to write the kanji for “above”
上 (“above” and “up”) is a JLPT N5 kanji taught in first grade in Japan. In newspapers it is one of the hundred most used kanji (35th). KANJIDIC2 gives it 3 on readings and 15 kun readings, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts: 卜 (“divination”), strokes 1–2; 一 (“one”, its radical), stroke 3, each finished before the next. On its own it is the word ue, “above; over”. Read jou, it forms 上昇 (“rising”), 史上 (“in history”) and 事実上 (“as a matter of fact”); the native reading a-geru gives 上がったり (“doomed (business, trade, etc.)”) and 値上げ (“price increase”). Chinese reads it shàng, “up”, at HSK 1.
- Strokes
- 3
- JLPT
- N5
- Radical
- 一 (“one”)
- On
- ジョウ, ショウ, シャン
- Kun
- -あ·がる, -うえ, うわ-
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Vertical ㇑topdownwards
- Horizontal ㇐centerrightwards
- Horizontal ㇐bottom leftrightwards
Japanese and Chinese
Japanese and Chinese draw all 3 strokes in the same order and direction, by our stroke-by-stroke comparison.
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Readings
- On (Chinese-derived)
- ジョウ jou, ショウ shou (rare), シャン shan (rare)
- Kun (native)
- -あ·がる -a-garu, -うえ -ue, うわ- uwa-, のぼ·せる nobo-seru, かみ kami, うえ ue (rare), あ·げる a-geru (rare), -あ·げる -a-geru (rare), あ·がる a-garu (rare), あ·がり a-gari (rare), -あ·がり -a-gari (rare), のぼ·る nobo-ru (rare), のぼ·り nobo-ri (rare), のぼ·す nobo-su (rare), たてまつ·る tatematsu-ru (rare)
- Meanings
- above; up
- Read jou
- 上昇 史上 事実上 上位 上院 向上
- Read a-geru
- 上がったり 値上げ
- School year
- first grade
- Newspaper rank
- 35th of 2,500 (KANJIDIC2)
- Korean hanja
- 상 sang
- Common words
- 156 in JMdict
Words with 上
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 上昇 | じょうしょう joushou | rising; ascending |
| 史上 | しじょう shijou | in history; ever |
| 事実上 | じじつじょう jijitsujou | as a matter of fact; actually |
| 上がったり | あがったり agattari | doomed (business, trade, etc.); in a bad state |
| 上位 | じょうい joui | superior; top |
| 上院 | じょういん jouin | upper house; upper legislative chamber |
| 向上 | こうじょう koujou | elevation; rise |
| 地上 | ちじょう chijou | above ground; on the ground |
| 値上げ | ねあげ neage | price increase; rise in price |
| 途上国 | とじょうこく tojoukoku | developing country |
Most common first (JMdict).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kanji: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Same parts:
JLPT N5, in list order: