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上
上 (readings: じょう, しょう, うえ, かみ, あ; Japanese kanji) means “above / up”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 上手 (skillful).
What does 上 mean?
| Kanji | 上 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | above / up |
| Readings | じょう, しょう, うえ, かみ, あ |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 上
上 is read じょう or しょう or うえ or かみ or あ depending on the word.
Example words with 上
| Example | 上手 (skillful) |
|---|
Practice writing 上 — free
See 上's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
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Updated: 2026-07-14