1The position above, over, or higher than something — the most basic spatial sense of 上 (read うえ). One of the first words a learner encounters.
テーブルの上にコップを置いた。
I put a cup on the table.
上を見ると、月が出ていた。
When I looked up, the moon was out.
雲の上を飛行機が飛んでいる。
An airplane is flying above the clouds.
本棚の一番上の段に辞書を並べた。
I lined up the dictionaries on the very top shelf of the bookcase.
2The very top, summit, or uppermost part of something — for example, the top of a mountain or the head of the stairs.
山の上から見える景色は最高だった。
The view from the top of the mountain was incredible.
階段の上で待っているね。
I'll wait at the top of the stairs, OK?
短歌の上の句をまず覚える。
First I memorize the upper verses (the first half) of the tanka.
3Resting on or in contact with a surface — used for things placed, sitting, or fallen on top of another surface.
雪の上に小さな足跡が残っていた。
Small footprints remained on the snow.
床の上にこぼれた水を拭いた。
I wiped up the water spilled on the floor.
白い紙の上にインクが一滴落ちた。
A drop of ink fell onto the white paper.
4In writing, refers back to something mentioned earlier — 'the above'. Used in expressions like 上で述べた (as stated above) or 上の表 (the table above), similar in function to 上記.
上で述べた理由により、計画を変更します。
For the reasons stated above, we will change the plan.
上の表をご覧ください。
Please refer to the table above.
上の通り、申請には三営業日かかります。
As stated above, the application takes three business days.
5Higher in rank, level, or ability — better or above another. Used in phrases like 上の人 (someone above), 一枚上 (a notch better), or 上には上がいる (there's always someone better).
彼は私より一枚上の実力がある。
He's a notch above me in ability.
上の人に相談してから決めたほうがいい。
You'd better consult someone above you before deciding.
上には上がいるものだ。
There's always someone better.
6Older or senior in age. Common in expressions like 年上 (older), 三つ上の兄 (a brother three years older), or 一つ上の先輩 (a senior one year older).
兄は私より三つ上です。
My older brother is three years older than me.
年上の人にはきちんと敬語を使いなさい。
Make sure to use polite language with people older than you.
彼女は私より一つ上の先輩だ。
She's a senior one year older than me.
7Used as Nの上で(は) or Nの上の〜 to mean 'in terms of N' or 'from the standpoint of N' — e.g., 数字の上では (statistically/on paper), 形の上では (formally/on the surface). Distinct from the suffix 〜上 read じょう (as in 法律上).
数字の上では業績は上がっている。
On paper, performance is improving.
形の上では契約を結んだが、実態が伴っていない。
We've signed the contract on paper, but there's nothing real behind it.
経験の上では彼にかなわない。
In terms of experience, I'm no match for him.
8Grammar pattern 〜上に meaning 'on top of that' or 'in addition' — adds another factor (good or bad) to a situation. JLPT N3 grammar.
このレストランは安い上においしい。
This restaurant is cheap, and on top of that, delicious.
道に迷った上に、雨まで降ってきた。
I got lost, and to top it off, it started raining.
彼は頭がいい上に、努力家だ。
He's smart, and on top of that, a hard worker.
9Grammar pattern 〜た上で meaning 'after (doing X)' or 'upon (doing X)' — indicates X is a prerequisite step before the next action or decision. JLPT N3 grammar.
よく考えた上でお返事します。
I'll reply after thinking it over carefully.
親と相談した上で決めたいと思います。
I'd like to decide after consulting with my parents.
内容を確認した上でサインしてください。
Please sign after checking the contents.
10Grammar pattern 〜上は meaning 'now that' or 'given that' — used to express resolve, responsibility, or a logical conclusion that follows from a fact. Somewhat formal.
引き受けた上は、最後まで責任を持ってやります。
Now that I've taken it on, I'll see it through to the end.
約束した上は守らなければならない。
Now that I've promised, I have to keep my word.
やると決めた上は、迷っている時間はない。
Now that I've decided to do it, there's no time to waver.
11An old-fashioned honorific suffix attached to family terms — 父上 (chichi-ue, father), 母上 (haha-ue, mother), 兄上 (ani-ue, elder brother). In modern Japanese it survives mainly in period dramas or very formal/ceremonial speech.
父上、ご無事でお帰りなさいませ。
Father, welcome home safely. (formal/period style)
母上はお元気でいらっしゃいますか。
Is mother well? (formal)
12(Archaic) An honorific term for the emperor, shogun, or daimyo. Essentially absent from modern Japanese — encountered only in historical writings or period dramas. The related derivation お上 (okami) is treated separately.