Japanese word

以上

Pronunciation

Romajiijō

Meaning

  • nounor more

Example

三人以上います。san nin i jō i ma su

There are three or more people.

Illustration for 以上 (or more)

More examples

りんごが三つ以上あります。ri n go ga mit tsu i jō a ri ma su

There are three or more apples.

この仕事には二時間以上かかります。ko no shi goto ni wa ni ji kan i jō ka ka ri ma su

This work takes two hours or more.

Core concept

Sets a stated quantity or degree as a boundary and includes everything equal to or higher than it.

Common phrases

  • 3人以上3 nin i jō

    three or more people

  • 18歳以上18 sai i jō

    18 or older

  • 100円以上100 en i jō

    100 yen or more

Definition in Japanese

基準にした数量や程度と同じか、それより多いこと。ki jun ni shi ta sū ryō ya tei do to ona ji ka so re yo ri ō i ko to

Word origin

The compound 以上 (ijō) contains 以 (i, "by means of") and 上 (jō, "above"), and its literal structure points to being above a reference point.

Usage tips

  • English often uses "at least" for this meaning, while Japanese places 以上 (ijō) after the stated quantity or level.

Other meanings

  • that's allconjunction

Opposites

Word lists with this word