verb HSK 4
shàng shēng
to rise · to go up · to ascend · to increase

Meaning

上升 describes upward movement or an increase in quantity, level, or degree. It can refer to physical ascent (like a balloon rising) or abstract increases (like temperature, prices, or rankings going up). The word combines 上 (up) and 升 (to rise), creating a compound that emphasizes upward motion or growth.

Usage

上升 is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to describe measurable increases. It frequently appears in news reports about economic indicators, temperatures, water levels, and rankings. When describing trends or statistics, 上升 often pairs with specific percentages or amounts. It's more formal than 涨 (zhǎng) but less technical than 攀升 (pān shēng).

Examples

  1. 01
    今天的气温上升了五度。
    Jīn tiān de wēn shàng shēng le .
    Today's temperature rose by five degrees.
  2. 02
    他在公司的地位不断上升
    zài gōng de wèi duàn shàng shēng.
    His status in the company continues to rise.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 温度上升
    wēn shàng shēng
    temperature rises
  • 价格上升
    jià shàng shēng
    prices rise
  • 快速上升
    kuài shàng shēng
    to rise rapidly
  • 上升趋势
    shàng shēng shì
    upward trend

Antonyms

Origin

The character 升 originally depicted a measuring vessel, later taking on the meaning of rising or ascending, possibly through the image of liquid levels rising in a container. Combined with 上 (up), the compound reinforces the concept of upward movement.

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