Japanese kanji 上: above; top

The idea

上 has 3 strokes. Follow the order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 上（うえ）, “above; top”, with 上手（じょうず）, “skilful; good at”. A character may be read differently from word to word; learn each word as a unit.

Examples

• 机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。There is a book on the desk.
• 山やまの上うえは寒さむいです。It is cold at the top of the mountain.
• 手てを上あげてください。Please raise your hand.
• 私わたしは二階にかいへ上あがります。I go up to the second floor.
• ピアノが上手じょうずです。I am good at playing the piano.
• 上着うわぎを着きてください。Please put on your jacket.

Watch out

上げる raises something; 上がる describes something going up. Compare the shape of 上 with 土; notice how their components differ.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 上 (above; top) in hiragana.

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   うえ

   上 is read うえ and means “above; top”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 上手 (skilful; good at) in hiragana.

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   じょうず

   上手 is read じょうず and means “skilful; good at”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿げる（あげる）.

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   上

   上 completes 上げる（あげる）, meaning “raise (something)”.

4. Which word means “go up; rise”? Write the whole word using kanji: 上がる or 上げる.

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   上がる

   上がる is read あがる and means “go up; rise”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word. 上げる instead means “raise (something)”.

Use it today

Write 上 three times following the linked stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 上 and 上手 aloud, and then check their readings and meanings.