shàng: 上 - Up, On, Go Up, Previous

• Keywords: 上, shang, Chinese word for up, shang meaning, how to use shang, Chinese prepositions, 上 vs 下, Chinese verbs of direction, 上个星期, 上班, Chinese character for on, learn Chinese
• Summary: “上” (shàng) is one of the most fundamental and versatile characters in Mandarin Chinese. This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use “上,” which can mean “up,” “on,” “to go to,” or “previous.” Learn its core meanings, see practical examples for going to work (上班), getting on a bus (上车), and talking about last week (上个星期), and understand its cultural significance to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shàng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Preposition, Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A multi-purpose word primarily meaning “up,” “on,” “to ascend/attend,” or “previous.”
• In a Nutshell: Think of “上” (shàng) as a character of verticality and priority. Its most basic meaning is the direction “up” or the position “on top of.” This core idea extends to actions like “going up” to a place (like school or work), or going “up” the timeline to a “previous” point in time (like last week). It's a foundational building block for dozens of essential, everyday words.

• 上 (shàng): This character is a simple ideogram, making it easy to remember. The long horizontal line at the bottom represents a surface, like the ground or a tabletop. The shorter vertical mark above it indicates something that is “above” or “on top of” that surface. It's a direct visual representation of its core meaning, “up” or “on.”

• In Chinese culture, direction often carries hierarchical weight. “上” (shàng) is not just a neutral direction; it frequently implies superiority, higher rank, or better quality. For instance, `上等 (shàngděng)` means “first-class” or “superior grade,” and historically, the emperor was addressed as `皇上 (huángshang)`, literally the “emperor above.” This reflects a traditional worldview where things “above” are more important or powerful.
• This contrasts with a more egalitarian emphasis in many Western cultures where “up” doesn't inherently carry the same strong connotation of superiority.
• A crucial cultural-linguistic point is its use in time. In Chinese, “last week” is `上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī)`—literally the “up week.” This can be counter-intuitive for English speakers who might associate “up” with “upcoming” or the future. The Chinese model conceives of time flowing past, so the “previous” week is the one that has already gone “up” on the list of events. The “next” week is `下个星期 (xià ge xīngqī)`, the “down” week. Understanding this prevents a very common mistake.

“上” is used constantly in daily life. Here are its main functions:

Used for physically ascending or boarding a vehicle.

• `上山 (shàng shān)` - To go up a mountain
• `上楼 (shàng lóu)` - To go upstairs
• `上车 (shàng chē)` - To get on a car/bus/train

This is one of the most common uses, referring to starting a scheduled activity at a specific location.

• `上班 (shàng bān)` - To go to work / be at work
• `上学 (shàng xué)` - To go to school / attend school
• `上课 (shàng kè)` - To attend a class
• `上网 (shàng wǎng)` - To go online / get on the internet

It indicates location, almost always used in the pattern `在 + [Noun] + 上`.

• `在桌子上 (zài zhuōzi shàng)` - on the table
• `在墙上 (zài qiáng shàng)` - on the wall

It modifies time words to mean the preceding period.

• `上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī)` - last week
• `上个月 (shàng ge yuè)` - last month
• `上午 (shàngwǔ)` - morning (literally, the “upper” part of the noon)

• Example 1:
  • 我们一起上山吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīqǐ shàng shān ba.
  • English: Let's go up the mountain together.
  • Analysis: Here, `上` is a verb of motion, meaning “to ascend” or “to go up.”

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• Example 2:
  • 快点上车，车要开了！
  • Pinyin: Kuài diǎn shàng chē, chē yào kāi le!
  • English: Hurry and get on the bus, it's about to leave!
  • Analysis: `上车` is a set phrase meaning “to board a vehicle.” `上` is the verb.

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• Example 3:
  • 我每天早上八点上班。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang bā diǎn shàngbān.
  • English: I go to work at 8 AM every day.
  • Analysis: `上班` is a verb-object compound that functions as a single verb meaning “to go to work.” It's one of the most common daily-life words.

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• Example 4:
  • 你的手机在桌子上。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de shǒujī zài zhuōzi shàng.
  • English: Your phone is on the table.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates `上` as a preposition of place. Note the required structure `在 + Noun + 上` to express “on [something].”

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• Example 5:
  • 我上个星期去北京了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ shàng ge xīngqī qù Běijīng le.
  • English: I went to Beijing last week.
  • Analysis: `上` is used here to indicate the “previous” time period. This is a crucial pattern to memorize.

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• Example 6:
  • 孩子们都喜欢上网玩游戏。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen dōu xǐhuān shàngwǎng wán yóuxì.
  • English: Children all like to go online to play games.
  • Analysis: `上网` is another essential verb-object compound, meaning “to get on the internet.”

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• Example 7:
  • 他住在楼上。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhù zài lóushàng.
  • English: He lives upstairs.
  • Analysis: `楼上` functions as a location noun. `楼` means “building/floor” and `上` means “up,” so together they mean “upstairs.”

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• Example 8:
  • 对不起，我明天上午有课。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ míngtiān shàngwǔ yǒu kè.
  • English: Sorry, I have class tomorrow morning.
  • Analysis: `上午` means “morning.” It's formed by `上` (upper) + `午` (noon), meaning the part of the day before noon.

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• Example 9:
  • 这道菜上面有太多香菜了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dào cài shàngmian yǒu tài duō xiāngcài le.
  • English: There is too much cilantro on top of this dish.
  • Analysis: `上面 (shàngmian)` is a location word meaning “on top of” or “the surface of.” It's more explicit than just `上`.

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• Example 10:
  • 关门前，请把锁上好。
  • Pinyin: Guān mén qián, qǐng bǎ suǒ shàng hǎo.
  • English: Before closing the door, please lock it well.
  • Analysis: This shows a less common but important use of `上` as a resultative complement. Here, it indicates the completion or success of an action, similar to “locking up.”

• The Biggest Mistake: “Last” vs. “Next”: English speakers instinctively want to use `上` for “upcoming.” This is wrong.
  • Correct: `上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī)` = Last week (the “up” week on the timeline)
  • Incorrect: ~~`上个星期` = Next week~~
  • Remember: `下 (xià)` means “down” or “next.” So, `下个星期` is “next week.”
• `在…上` vs. `…上`: When describing where something is, you must use the `在…上` structure. When describing what is at a location, you can often just use the location word.
  • Correct: `书在桌子上。 (Shū zài zhuōzi shàng.)` - The book is on the table.
  • Correct: `桌子上有一本书。 (Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī běn shū.)` - On the table there is a book.
  • Incorrect: ~~`书桌子上。(Shū zhuōzi shàng.)`~~ This is grammatically incomplete.
• False Friend: “Go up”: Not every instance of “go up” in English translates to `上`. `上` usually requires a destination (mountain, car, school). For abstract increases, like prices or temperature, you use a compound verb.
  • Example: “The price went up.”
  • Correct: `价格上涨了。(Jiàgé shàngzhǎng le.)`
  • Incorrect: ~~`价格上了。(Jiàgé shàng le.)`~~ This sounds unnatural and incomplete.

• 下 (xià) - The direct antonym of `上`. It means “down,” “below,” “under,” and “next” (for time).
• 上面 (shàngmian) - A more explicit location word for “on top of,” “above,” “the surface.” Often interchangeable with `…上`.
• 上班 (shàngbān) - A specific and very common use of `上`: to go to work. Its antonym is 下班 (xiàbān).
• 马上 (mǎshàng) - Literally “on the horse,” this idiom means “immediately” or “right away,” stemming from the idea of hopping on a horse to get something done quickly.
• 上涨 (shàngzhǎng) - A more formal verb meaning “to rise” or “to increase,” used for prices, water levels, stocks, etc.
• 网上 (wǎngshàng) - A location noun meaning “on the internet” or “online.”
• 事实上 (shìshí shàng) - An adverbial phrase meaning “in fact” or “actually.” Literally, “on the surface of the facts.”
• 之上 (zhī shàng) - A formal, literary way to say “above” or “over,” often used in abstract contexts (e.g., `法律之上` - above the law).