上 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

上: above; up; rise; superior; offer. JLPT N5; 3 strokes.

Readings

On readings

ジョウ、ショウ

Kun readings

うえ、うわ-、かみ、あ.げる、あ.がる、のぼ.る

Romaji

jou, shou, ue, uwa, kami, ageru, agaru, noboru

Study notes

上 indicates what is above or higher up, whether in space or in rank; as a verb it expresses going up and lifting.

On readings: ジョウ in 上手 (じょうず, skilled, able), 以上 (いじょう, beyond, more than), 上司 (じょうし, superior, chief), 上品 (じょうひん, elegant), 屋上 (おくじょう, rooftop terrace). ショウ is rare and appears in 上人 (しょうにん, venerable monk).

Kun readings: うえ, 'above' (机の上, on the desk; 年上=としうえ, older). うわ in 上着 (うわぎ, jacket) and 上回る (うわまわる, surpass). かみ indicates the upper part or upper course: 川上 (かわかみ, upstream of a river), 風上 (かざかみ, windward). Verbs: あがる (上がる, go up, increase) is intransitive; あげる (上げる, lift; give) is transitive; のぼる (上る, go up, ascend) is used for stairs, climbs and rivers.

Special readings: 上手 is read じょうず (brave) but also うわて (superior, more skillful). 上手い (うまい, skillful; good) uses the kanji with a reading of its own word.

Remember: 上手 (じょうず, brave) and 下手 (へた, denied) form a very common pair: 料理が上手です (cooks well).

Example words

• 上着 (うわぎ) — jacket; outer garment
• 上達 (じょうたつ) — improvement; progress
• 上人 (しょうにん) — venerable monk; Buddhist honorific title
• 上 (うえ) — top; above
• 川上 (かわかみ) — upper reaches of a river; upstream
• 上げる (あげる) — raise
• 上がる (あがる) — go up; rise
• 上る (のぼる) — to go up; to ascend; to travel toward the capital

Example sentences

机の上に本があります。

tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.

There is a book on the desk.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.