Meanings of 上
By ear
Play it, then pick what 上 means.
About 上
Podcast: 上
Podcast: 上
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 上
下 (xià) - use 上 when indicating a position above or on top, whereas 下 refers to a position below or underneath.
Be careful not to confuse 上 (shǎng) with other similar sounding words like 伤 (shāng, 'to hurt'). This character is generally informal but can be used in both spoken and written contexts, especially when referring to locations or actions involving elevation.
As an HSK Level 1 word, 上 connects with other basic location and action words such as 下 (xià, 'down') and 去 (qù, 'to go'). Focus on its various uses in phrases to enhance your understanding.
Learners often misuse 上 when they mean 'down.' An example mistake would be saying '我上去' (wǒ shàng qù) when trying to say 'I go down.' The correct phrase would be '我下去' (wǒ xià qù).
Pronunciation of 上
Drill the tone of 上, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 上 to you
Let me explain 上 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 上 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 上?
Learning Lab
Knowing 上 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 上
Originally a small line or dot above a longer line, indicating "up". The vertical line was added to distinguish the character from 二 (two).
One stroke on top of another; compare 下 (below)
Origin
What kind of character is 上?
Decomposition of 上
Parts
Which of these is part of 上?
How to say on top in Chinese
“on top” in Chinese is上
The character 上 (shǎng) primarily means 'above' or 'on top of.' It is commonly used in contexts indicating position, such as 'to go up' or 'to attend' classes. This versatile character can also signify something that is superior or previous in a sequence.
When to use 上
Be careful not to confuse 上 (shǎng) with other similar sounding words like 伤 (shāng, 'to hurt'). This character is generally informal but can be used in both spoken and written contexts, especially when referring to locations or actions involving elevation.
上 or something close to it
下 (xià) - use 上 when indicating a position above or on top, whereas 下 refers to a position below or underneath.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 上 when they mean 'down.' An example mistake would be saying '我上去' (wǒ shàng qù) when trying to say 'I go down.' The correct phrase would be '我下去' (wǒ xià qù).
Write 上
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 上 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 上
上 carries 11 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我每天晚____十一点睡觉。
I go to sleep at 11 p.m. every night.
Common confusions with 上
Same radical 商 but different meaning.
Same pronunciation but different meaning and character.
上 means 'up' or 'above', while 下 means 'down' or 'below'.
上面 (above) vs. 下面 (below)
上 means 'up' or 'above', while 下 means 'down' or 'below'.
Which one
Which one means “on top”?
Usage Notes for 上
Learners often confuse 上 with 下 when describing locations.
上面在下面的上面。
The top is above the bottom.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____面在下面的上面。
The top is above the bottom.
Example sentences for 上 (16)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “The cat is on top of the table.”
Ask Jason
Have a question about 上?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 上
在中国文化中，'上'常常用于表达尊敬。例如，在与长辈交谈时，使用'您'而不是'你'，显示出对对方的尊重。
Word Family of 上
Characters with 上
What does 让 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 上
上 (shàng) refers to the character meaning 'on top' or 'above,' while 上声 (shǎng sheng) refers to the third tone in Mandarin Chinese. The distinction is important because tone affects pronunciation and meaning in the Chinese language.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 上?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.