Chinese word

上方

Pronunciation

Pinyinshàng fāng

Meaning

  • nounabove

Example

书架的上方有灰尘。shū jià de shàng fāng yǒu huī chén

There is dust above the bookshelf.

Illustration for 上方 (above)

More examples

照片是从上方拍的。zhào piān shì cóng shàng fāng pāi de

The photo was taken from above.

Core concept

The space or direction higher than a reference point, especially the area directly overhead.

Common phrases

  • 书架的上方shū jià de shàng fāng

    above the bookshelf

  • 从上方俯视cóng shàng fāng fǔ shì

    look down from above

  • 上方区域shàng fāng qū yù

    area above

Similar words

上面shàng miàn: The top surface or upper part of an object or place.
上边shàng biān: A conversational expression for the area or place above something.
顶部dǐng bù: The uppermost part or position of an object.
头上tóu shàng: The area or position immediately over someone's or an animal's head.

Definition in Chinese

表示位于某物正上方或上侧的区域或方向。biǎo shì wèi yú mǒu wù zhèng shàng fāng huò shàng cè de qū yù huò fāng xiàng

Word origin

上 (shàng, "up") + 方 (fāng, "direction") form a compound for the direction or area above something.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word often sounds more formal or diagram-like than ordinary location expressions, so it commonly appears in descriptions of layouts and positions.

Other meanings

  • topnoun
  • the sky abovenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word