上 shàng — top · English

上

shàng

top

At a glance · 上

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

「上」甲骨文以一长画之上加短画指事，金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「上」本义为上面、高处，引申上等、在上者。

Structure

指事字，于长画上方着点画表上方，本为上下之上。

At a glance

Pinyinshàng

Radical一

Strokes3

UnicodeU+4E0A

Character type指事

Theme数术

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English top top; superior, highest; go up, send up

Français haut / supérieur Haut, supérieur. «上和下睦» : ceux du dessus.

Español alto / superior Alto, superior. «上和下睦»: los de arriba.

العربية أعلى / متفوّق أعلى، متفوّق. «上和下睦»: من في الأعلى.

Русский верхний / высший Верхний, высший. «上和下睦»: те, что сверху.

Common words

上面shàng miànabove
上学shàng xuégo to school

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