上
shàng
In Chinese, the word for up is 上 (shàng).
The word 上 is used to indicate movement or position away from the earth's surface. While 上 can act as an adverb, it is often used in more specific formal terms: 上方 (shàng fāng) refers to something located above or in the upper region, 向上 (xiàng shàng) expresses an upward direction or movement and 增加 (zēng jiā) is used to convey a rise or increase.
Meaning: away from earth’s surface (adv)
Which one should you use?
While 上 is a common way to express 'up', the two-character verb 上升 (shàngshēng) is a more formal way to express the concept of rising or ascending.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern China, particularly in Guangdong province, the Cantonese word for 'up' is 上 (soeng5).
How does it change in a sentence?
When 上 is used as a directional complement to indicate movement toward a higher position, it is often paired with a verb and the particle 去 (qù) or 来 (lái) to form 上去 (shàngqù) or 上来 (shànglái). To indicate the completion of an upward movement when 上 functions as a complement, you can add the aspect particle 了 (le) after it, such as in 爬上了 (pá shàng le – climbed up).
How do you pronounce it?
shàng
Did you know?
- In Chinese, 上 does not only mean 'up' but is also the primary word used to denote 'previous' or 'last', such as in 上个月 for 'last month'.
- While 上 means 'up', it is used in the phrase 上厕所 to mean 'going to the bathroom', regardless of whether the bathroom is on a higher floor.
- The character 上 is an ideogram, meaning it was originally designed as a simple visual symbol. It consists of a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc to represent something being positioned high.
Examples in context
- 早上要早起。Get up early in the morning.This sentence shows how to use 上 to talk about getting up early.Tatoeba #1423330 by sadhen, translation #277829 by CK
- 猴子爬上了树。The monkey climbed up a tree.This sentence demonstrates using 上 to describe a monkey climbing up a tree.Tatoeba #1372495 by sadhen, translation #50347 by CK
- 我跟不上汤姆。I can't keep up with Tom.This sentence illustrates using 上 in the context of keeping up with someone.Tatoeba #5091608 by mirrorvan, translation #3819387 by CK
- 温度在增加 (wēndù zài zēng jiā)The temperature is going up
- 行上山 (hang4 soeng5 saan1)Walk up the hill
- 198 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are looking at the sky.
- 浩然 Haoran你看，气球飞上天了！Nǐ kàn, qìqiú fēi shàng tiān le!Look, the balloon flew up into the sky!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen哇，飞得真高。Wa, fēi de zhēn gāo.Wow, it flew so high.
- 浩然 Haoran它正往上飞。Tā zhèng wǎng shàng fēi.It is flying up right now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen快看，它快不见了。Kuài kàn, tā kuài bù jiàn le.Look quickly, it's almost gone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 上, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
