上 — Above, Up

Meaning

上 means above, up, or upper. Japanese first-graders learn it in their very first school year — and it earns that early spot. From 机の上 (on the desk) to 上手 (skilled at something), this character threads through daily conversation in ways that quickly become invisible once you know it.

上 is a pictographic character. In oracle bone script, it showed a mark placed above a baseline — a stroke hovering over a line, representing something higher. The modern form keeps that logic intact: a short horizontal stroke sits above the vertical and the base, drawing exactly what it means. Few kanji are this transparent about their origins.

At just 3 strokes, 上 is among the simplest kanji you will encounter. Yet it covers a wide range — direction, physical position, rank, upward action, and workplace hierarchy all run through this single character.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

On'yomi readings appear mainly in compound words (jukugo) built from two or more kanji.

ジョウ (jou) — The primary on'yomi. Used in the vast majority of kanji compounds involving 上.

上手じょうず (jouzu) — skilled, good at something
上級じょうきゅう (joukyuu) — advanced level
上映じょうえい (jouei) — screening (of a film)
上奏じょうそう (jousou) — report to the Emperor (historical/formal usage)

ショウ (shou) — A rare reading, mostly in Buddhist or classical vocabulary.

上人しょうにん (shounin) — high-ranking Buddhist priest

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

上 has several kun'yomi, each tied to a specific grammatical context.

うえ (ue) — Standalone noun meaning "above" or "top." The reading you will use most often.

上うえ (ue) — above, on top
机の上つくえのうえ (tsukue no ue) — on top of the desk

**うわ

(uwa-)** — A prefix in native compound words, indicating something on the outer surface.
上着うわぎ (uwagi) — jacket, outer garment
上向きうわむき (uwamuki) — facing upward, upward trend

かみ (kami) — The upper portion of something. In historical contexts, it indicates high social rank or the upstream section of a river.

川上かわかみ (kawakami) — upstream
上方かみがた (kamigata) — the Kyoto-Osaka region (historically "upper" Japan)

あ.げる (a.geru) — Transitive verb: "to raise" or "to lift something up." The dot marks where the kanji reading ends and the okurigana begins.

手てを上げるあげる (te wo ageru) — to raise one's hand
成績せいせきを上げるあげる (seiseki wo ageru) — to improve one's grades

のぼ.る (nobo.ru) — Intransitive verb: "to climb" or "to go up," used for ascending hills, stairs, or a rising sun.

山やまに上るのぼる (yama ni noboru) — to climb a mountain
階段かいだんを上るのぼる (kaidan wo noboru) — to go up the stairs

Common Words & Compounds

上 shows up everywhere in daily Japanese. Here are key compounds grouped by theme.

Position & Direction

上うえ (ue) — above, on top
上下じょうげ (jouge) — up and down, top and bottom
上空じょうくう (joukuu) — sky, upper airspace

Skill & Rank

上手じょうず (jouzu) — skilled, good at (a skill)
上級じょうきゅう (joukyuu) — advanced level
上位じょうい (joui) — high rank, top position
上司じょうし (joushi) — boss, superior

Actions (raising / going up)

上がるあがる (agaru) — to rise, to go up (intransitive)
上げるあげる (ageru) — to raise, to lift up (transitive)
上るのぼる (noboru) — to climb, to ascend
値上がりねあがり (neagari) — price increase

Clothing & Objects

上着うわぎ (uwagi) — jacket, coat, outer clothing
上履きうわばき (uwabaki) — indoor shoes worn inside Japanese schools

Example Sentences

本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。

Hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.

The book is on top of the desk.

飛行機ひこうきが上空じょうくうを飛とんでいます。

Hikouki ga joukuu wo tonde imasu.

The airplane is flying in the sky above.

手てを上げてあげてください。

Te wo agete kudasai.

Please raise your hand.

彼女は日本語にほんごが上手じょうずです。

Kanojo wa nihongo ga jouzu desu.

She is good at Japanese.

山やまに上るのぼるのはとても楽たのしいです。

Yama ni noboru no wa totemo tanoshii desu.

Climbing mountains is very fun.

気温きおんが上がってあがってきました。

Kion ga agatte kimashita.

The temperature has risen.

上司じょうしに報告ほうこくしなければなりません。

Joushi ni houkoku shinakereba narimasen.

I must report to my supervisor.

成績せいせきを上げるあげるために毎日まいにち勉強べんきょうしています。

Seiseki wo ageru tame ni mainichi benkyou shite imasu.

I study every day in order to improve my grades.

川かわの上流じょうりゅうはとてもきれいです。

Kawa no jouryuu wa totemo kirei desu.

The upstream part of the river is very beautiful.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

上 is a picture of something rising above a line. Read the three strokes from bottom up: the long base stroke is the ground, the vertical stroke is a shoot pushing skyward, and the short top stroke has already cleared the baseline — it is above. You can also read it as an upward arrow resting on a stable base. Either way, the shape and the meaning are the same thing. Once that connection clicks, 上 stays.