Chinese word

上下

Pronunciation

Pinyinshàng xià

Meaning

  • nountop and bottom

Example

把柜子的上下都检查一遍。bǎ guì zi de shàng xià dōu jiǎn chá yí biàn

Check the top and bottom of the cabinet.

Illustration for 上下 (top and bottom)

More examples

他要处理好和同事的上下关系。tā yào chú lǐ hǎo hé tóng shì de shàng xià guān xì

He needs to handle the hierarchical relationship with his colleagues well.

Core concept

A vertical pair spanning the upper and lower ends of something, with the space or movement between them treated as one range.

Common phrases

  • 上下关系shàng xià guān xì

    hierarchical relationship

  • 上下文shàng xià wén

    context

Similar words

上面shàng miàn: The upper part or surface of an object.
下面xià miàn: The lower part or surface of an object.
顶部dǐng bù: The highest part of an object.
底部dǐ bù: The lowest part of an object.

Definition in Chinese

表示物体或位置的上部和下部，指两端或对立的垂直方向。biǎo shì wù tǐ huò wèi zhì de shàng bù hé xià bù zhǐ liǎng duān huò duì lì de chuí zhí fāng xiàng

Word origin

上 (shàng, "up") + 下 (xià, "down") joins the two basic vertical directions, and the pair extends naturally from physical ends to a range or movement between extremes.

Usage tips

  • This word is useful when one action applies to the upper and lower parts of the same object, rather than to two separate objects.

Other meanings

  • fluctuateverb
  • ups and downsnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 上下文shàng xià wéncontextnoun
  • 上下颠倒shàng xià diān dǎoupside downidiom

Word lists with this word