Kilo Lingo

(shàng miàn) - above, on top, on the surface in Mandarin

shàngmiàn

Traditional: 上面

Line drawing of 上面
Coloured illustration of 上面
HSK 2
#575 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

above, on top, on the surface

Word origin

上面 (shàng miàn) combines 上 (shàng), 'up' or 'above', with the locative noun 面 (miàn), 'side' or 'surface', itself a pictograph of a face. The compound means 'above', 'on top' or 'on the surface'.

Origin
compound
Root
上 (shàng, above) + 面 (miàn, side/surface)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 上

Stroke order for 面

Examples

There is a book on top of the table.

We must comply with the decision from above.

Please write your name on it.

His name is written on top.

The book is on top of the table.

上面 (shàng miàn) means above, on top, or on the surface. It is a location noun that indicates position on the upper side of something (桌子上面, on top of the table). In a hierarchical or organisational context it means the higher authorities or those above: 上面说了 (those above said). Related location words form a system: 下面 (below), 里面 (inside), 外面 (outside), 前面 (in front), 后面 (behind).

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 12.