上
[ɯ̟e̞]
The Japanese word for up is 上.
上 is used as an adverb to indicate movement or position away from the earth's surface. It can also function as a noun to describe the direction opposed to the pull of gravity. Relatedly, the verb 上げる can be used to express the concept of an increase.
Meaning: away from earth’s surface (adv)
Which one should you use?
While 上 is the standard form, you can add the particle へ to create 上へ, which specifically emphasizes the direction of movement toward an upward position. For more formal contexts, the word 上方 (jouhou) is used to convey the idea of 'upwards'. In casual conversation, the colloquial expression ヒョイ (hyoi) can be used to depict the action of lifting or flipping something up.
Related words
Did you know?
- The word 上 has two completely different readings: ue and kami. While ue is used for physical position, kami often refers to a higher social status or a more northerly direction.
- In old texts like the Kojiki, the word 上 was written as かむ (kamu) because the modern ん (n) sound had not yet developed in the Japanese writing system.
- The word 上 can be pronounced as kami, which is a homophone for the word used to describe a Shinto deity.
Examples in context
- お手上げだ。I give up.This example shows how 上 is used in the idiom for giving up.Tatoeba #227069 by bunbuku, translation #241200 by CK
- 物価が上がった。Prices went up.This example demonstrates the use of a verb related to 'up' to show an increase in prices.Tatoeba #83808 by bunbuku, translation #442109 by CK
- 池が干上がった。The pond has dried up.This example shows the use of a word containing 上 to describe something drying up.Tatoeba #126796 by arnab, translation #277294 by CK
- 飛行機は上方へ上昇しています。(ひこうきはじょうほうへじょうしょうしています。)The plane is ascending upwards.
- 設置地点より上へお進みください。(せっちちてんよりうえへおすすみください。)Please proceed upward from the designated location.
- ボールが上に行く！(ぼーるがうえにいく！)The ball is going up!
- 紙をヒョイと持ち上げました。(かみをひょいともちあげました。)I lifted the paper up with a flick.
- エレベーターが上がってきたよ。(えれべーたーがあがってきたよ。)The elevator has arrived (come up).
- 彼は山を上っている。(かれはやまをのぼっている。)He is climbing up the mountain.
- トップに上がりたい。(とっぷにあがりたい。)I want to rise to the top.
- 255 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman and a man are looking at the sky.
- 結衣 Yui空の上は青いね。Sora no ue wa aoi ne.It's blue up in the sky, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto雲が上に見えるよ。Kumo ga ue ni mieru yo.I can see clouds up there.
- 結衣 Yui上の方まで飛んでいってほしいな。Ue no hou made tonde itte hoshii na.I want them to fly even higher up.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣は想像力が豊かだね。Yui wa souzou ryoku ga yutaka da ne.Yui, you have a great imagination.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 上, 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.
