What does 上 mean in Japanese?
上 means “above, up” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 上 (above; top), 上手 (skilled), and 年上 (older).
For learners, the key is to study 上 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ジョウ (jou), ショウ (shou)
Kun’yomi: うえ (ue), うわ- (uwa-), のぼ-る (nobo-ru), あ-げる (a-geru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 上 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | above, up, top |
| Stroke Count | 3 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
上 is not limited to one English translation. In 上 (うえ), it means above; top; in 上手 (じょうず), it points to skilled; and in 年上 (としうえ), it is used for older. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 上（うえ / ue） — above; top
- 上手（じょうず / jōzu） — skilled
- 年上（としうえ / toshiue） — older
- 上る（のぼる / noboru） — to go up
- 屋上（おくじょう / okujō） — rooftop
- 以上（いじょう / ijō） — more than; above
Example Sentences
-
本は机の上にあります。
ほんはつくえのうえにあります。 / Hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
The book is on the desk.
-
彼女は日本語が上手です。
かのじょはにほんごがじょうずです。 / Kanojo wa Nihongo ga jōzu desu.
She is good at Japanese.
-
屋上から町が見えます。
おくじょうからまちがみえます。 / Okujō kara machi ga miemasu.
You can see the town from the rooftop.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 上 (うえ / ue) because it keeps the core meaning of 上 clear. Then add 上手 and 年上 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 上 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
上 means “above, up” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 上, 上手, and 年上.