Chinese word

上面

Pronunciation

Pinyinshàng miàn

Meaning

  • nountop

Example

桌子上面有一本书。zhuō zi shàng miàn yǒu yì běn shū

There is a book on top of the table.

Illustration for 上面 (top)

More examples

书包上面放着一个小熊玩具。shū bāo shàng miàn fàng zhe yí gè xiǎo xióng wán jù

There is a small teddy bear on top of the schoolbag.

Core concept

A location at the upper side of a thing, whether it is its top surface or the area above it.

Common phrases

  • 书包上面shū bāo shàng miàn

    on top of the schoolbag

  • 盒子上面hé zi shàng miàn

    on top of the box

  • 照片上面zhào piān shàng miàn

    on top of the photo

Similar words

上边shàng biān: The upper side or edge of something.
上方shàng fāng: The direction or area above something, often with some space between.
上部shàng bù: The upper section of a larger object, structure, or area.
顶部dǐng bù: The highest part of an object or building.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某物的上部或表面的位置，也常作为代词指前文或在上方提到的部分。biǎo shì zài mǒu wù de shàng bù huò biǎo miàn de wèi zhì yě cháng zuò wéi dài cí zhǐ qián wén huò zài shàng fāng tí dào de bù fèn

Word origin

上面 (shàngmiàn, "top") is formed from 上 (shàng, "up") + 面 (miàn, "surface"), combining direction with a surface to name an upper area and then a section identified as being above.

Usage tips

  • In English, "on" or "above" usually comes before the noun, while Chinese can place the location term after it, so the sentence structure differs even when the spatial relationship is the same.

Other meanings

  • abovenoun
  • surfacenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word