Kanji 上 - above, up
Kanji 上 means above, up. Onyomi readings are ジョウ (jou) . Kunyomi readings are うえ (ue), あ (a), のぼ (nobo), うわ (uwa), かみ (kami).
JLPT N5Grade 1
Stroke order animation (3 strokes)
Stroke Order Diagram
Each box shows the kanji up to that stroke. Red dot indicates stroke start point.
Readings of 上
音On'yomi (音読み)
ジョウ(jou)
訓Kun'yomi (訓読み)
うえ(ue)
あ(a)
のぼ(nobo)
うわ(uwa)
かみ(kami)
上 in different fonts
Vocabulary with 上
| Audio | English  | Romaji | Japanese | Kana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| above | ue | 上 | うえ | |
| skilled | jouzu | 上手 | じょうず |
Common words containing the kanji 上
More Information about 上
Common words with 上 (ue/jō)
- 上手 (jōzu)（じょうず）: skilled
- 以上 (ijō)（いじょう）: or more; that is all
- 上着 (uwagi)（うわぎ）: coat/jacket (outerwear)
- 屋上 (okujō)（おくじょう）: rooftop
- 目上 (meue)（めうえ）: one’s superior (older/higher status)
- 上昇 (jōshō)（じょうしょう）: rise; increase
- 上り／下り (nobori／kudari)（のぼり／くだり）: up-bound / down-bound (trains, roads)
What’s the difference: うえ (ue)／うわ (uwa)／かみ (kami)?
- うえ (ue) = position “on/above”: テーブルの上 (tēburu no ue) = on the table.
- うわ (uwa) = upper/outer part in compounds: 上着 (uwagi)（うわぎ） = jacket/coat (outerwear); 上側 (uwagawa)（うわがわ） = upper side / top side.
- かみ (kami) = upper in contrast pairs (formal/traditional): 川上 (kawakami)（かわかみ） = upstream; 上下 (kamishimo)（かみしも） = upper and lower (e.g., higher/lower rank or positions).
あがる (agaru)／あげる (ageru)／のぼる (noboru) — which one?
- 上がる (agaru)（あがる）: go up (intransitive). ねつが上がる (netsu ga agaru) (fever rises).
- 上げる (ageru)（あげる）: raise (transitive). 手を上げる (te o ageru) (raise your hand).
- 上る (noboru)（のぼる）: climb/ascend (stairs, hills); also used in set phrases (上京 (jōkyō)・じょうきょう: go up to the capital).
Cultural note: seating 上座 (kamiza) and 下座 (shimoza)
In traditional seating, the seat of honor is 上座 (kamiza)（かみざ） (the upper seat), away from the door. The modest seat is 下座 (shimoza)（しもざ）. Knowing 上/下 (ue/shita) helps in business manners.
Idioms and set phrases with 上 (jō/ue)
- 目上 (meue)（めうえ）: a person above you (senior)
- 都合上 (tsugōjō)（つごうじょう）: for convenience / due to circumstances
- 以上 (ijō)（いじょう）: that’s all; more than
- 上出来 (jōdeki)（じょうでき）: well done; nicely made
