上 Stroke Order — How to Write 上

Stroke Order

上 is written in 3 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 一, then complete the remaining strokes.

Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.

上 Radical and Character Components

Components:⺊一

上 is an ideographic compound. One stroke on top of another; compare 下 (below).

Radical: 一 + 2 more strokes

上 Pronunciation and Pinyin

shàng
shǎng

Meanings of 上 in Chinese

shàng上

Above; on top of; higher up; opposite of 'below'.

楼上很安静。

Upstairs is very quiet.

Preceding in order or time; previous.

我们上周去看了一场电影。

We went to see a movie last week.

High in rank, quality, or grade.

这瓶红酒是上等佳酿。

This bottle of red wine is a first-class vintage.

To go from a lower place to a higher place, like ascending a mountain or getting onto a vehicle.

我们一起上山看日出吧。

Let's go up the mountain together to watch the sunrise.

To go to; to attend (e.g., school, work).

我每天早上都会上学。

I go to school every morning.

to advance forward; to move upwards or ahead, often with effort

面对困难，我们应该勇敢地冲上去，争取更好的机会。

Facing difficulties, we should bravely charge forward and strive for better opportunities.

to apply or add a substance (e.g., water, paint, lubricant) to something

油漆工给墙面上色

The painter applied color to the wall surface.

To attach, fix, or install something; to put on (e.g., a lock, a spring).

出门前记得把门上锁。

Remember to lock the door before you go out.

To apply or put on (e.g., ointment, paint)

护士给病人上药。

The nurse applied medicine to the patient.

To attend or participate in a scheduled activity, such as a class or work.

明天早上我必须上学。

I have to go to school tomorrow morning.

To wind (a spring, clock, toy, etc.); to tighten a spring.

爸爸每天都会给老式钟表上发条。

Dad winds the antique clock every day.

To record; to enter (into an account or ledger).

请把今天的销售额上到账本上。

Please record today's sales in the ledger.

Used after a noun to indicate time, place, or scope, for example, '晚上' (evening), '桌上' (on the table), '组织上' (organizationally).

我喜欢在晚上看书。

I like to read books in the evening.

Used after a verb to indicate the completion or successful result of an action, or to suggest an upward or inward direction.

外面冷，快穿上外套吧

It's cold outside, quickly put on your jacket.

To reach a certain degree or quantity, often implying an advanced state or level.

他的厨艺已经上水平了

His cooking skills have already reached a high level.

A note in ancient Chinese musical notation, equivalent to 'do' or '1' in solfège.

这首曲子的第一个音是‘上’。

The first note of this piece is 'shàng'.

shǎng上

In Chinese phonetics, 'shǎng' refers to the third tone, also known as the 'rising-falling tone' or 'up-tone' in Mandarin Chinese (pǔtōnghuà).

这个字的声调是上声。

The tone of this character is the third tone.

Common Words and Phrases with 上

shàng上àn岸

Literally 'to go ashore'. Figuratively, it means to successfully reach a stable and secure state after a period of difficulty or struggle, such as securing a stable job, passing a major exam, getting out of debt, or quitting a life of crime.

船员们经过漫长的航行，终于安全上岸了

After a long voyage, the sailors finally landed safely ashore.

shàng上bān班

to go to work

我每天早上八点半准时上班。

I go to work promptly at 8:30 AM every day.

shàng上bàn半shǎng晌

forenoon

我们计划上半晌去市场买菜，下午再回家准备晚餐。

We plan to go to the market to buy groceries in the forenoon, and then go home to prepare dinner in the afternoon.

shàng上bàn半shēn身

the upper part of the body

健身后，他的上半身肌肉线条变得更加明显。

After fitness training, the muscle definition in his upper body became more pronounced.

shàng上bào报

To report to a higher authority or leadership; to be published in a newspaper.

请将项目进展情况上报给经理。

Please report the project progress to the manager.

shàng上bèi辈zi子

previous life

我们团队里有位前辈，他对行业的洞察力非常深，有时我开玩笑说他简直是我上辈子的导师。

In our team, there's a senior colleague; his industry insights are incredibly profound. Sometimes I jokingly say he's simply my mentor from a past life.

shàng上biān边

upper side or upper part

书包的上边有一个小口袋。

There is a small pocket on the upper side of the backpack.

shàng上biāo标

A character or symbol set slightly above the normal line of text, often used in mathematics, footnotes, or for exponents.

在数学公式中，指数通常以上标的形式表示

In mathematical formulas, exponents are usually represented as superscripts.

shàng上biāo膘

To fatten; to gain weight or flesh, especially referring to livestock.

这头猪养得真好，开始上膘了，过不了多久就能出栏。

This pig is being raised very well; it's starting to put on weight and fat, and it won't be long before it can be sent to market.

shàng上bīn宾

guest of honour; distinguished guest

今天，我们有幸邀请到几位艺术界上宾，共同探讨艺术的未来发展。

Today, we are honored to invite several distinguished guests from the art world to discuss the future development of art.

shàng上cài菜

to serve dishes or bring food to the table

请您稍等，菜马上就上来了。

Please wait a moment; the dishes will be served shortly.

shàng上cāng苍

Heaven

我相信上苍会指引我们走向正确的道路。

I believe Heaven will guide us to the right path.

shàng上cāo操

to be drilling; to drill

每天清晨，学校的学生们都会在操场上上操，以保持身体健康。

Early every morning, the school students attend their drills on the playground to maintain physical fitness.

shàng上cè策

the best policy; the best strategy

面对项目中的挑战，团队认为提前沟通是解决问题的上策。

Facing challenges in the project, the team believes that proactive communication is the best strategy to solve the problem.

shàng上céng层

Upper levels or strata, referring to a higher position or status within an organization, society, or structure.

公司上层对这个新项目抱有很高的期望。

The company's senior management holds high expectations for this new project.

shàng上céng层jiàn建zhù筑

The superstructure refers to the political, legal, religious, artistic, and philosophical views and institutions that are built upon a society's economic base.

一个社会的经济发展水平，往往会深刻影响其文化、艺术和价值观等上层建筑的形成与发展。

The level of economic development in a society often profoundly influences the formation and development of its superstructure, such as culture, art, and values.