Japanese word

史上

Pronunciation

Romajishijō

Meaning

  • nounever

Example

これは史上最高の記録です。ko re wa shi jō sai kō no ki roku de su

This is the best record ever.

Illustration for 史上 (ever)

More examples

この大会は史上最多の観客を集めました。ko no tai kai wa shi jō sai ta no kan kyaku o atsu me ma shi ta

This tournament drew the largest crowd ever.

Core concept

Marks a comparison against everything recorded in history, often giving a superlative the sense of "ever."

Common phrases

  • 史上最高shi jō sai kō

    the best ever

  • 史上初shi jō hatsu

    the first ever

  • 史上最多shi jō sai ta

    the most ever

  • 史上最大shi jō sai dai

    the largest ever

  • 史上最年少shi jō sai nen shō

    the youngest ever

Similar words

歴代rekidai: All past generations or periods within a particular group or category.
有史以来yūshiirai: The whole time since people began keeping written historical records.
空前kūzen: An event or achievement that has no previous example in history.
前代未聞zendaimimon: A situation or event that has never occurred before.

Definition in Japanese

歴史に記録された範囲で、これまでの中で。reki shi ni ki roku sa re ta han i de ko re ma de no naka de

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 史上 (shijō) combines 史 (shi, "history") and 上 (jō, "above" or "within"), forming the sense "in recorded history."

Usage tips

  • In headlines and formal reports, 史上 (shijō) gives record claims a broad time range, as in 史上初 (shijō hatsu), meaning the first in history.

Word lists with this word