noun / locative HSK 1
above · on top of · on the surface of · upper part
Meaning
上面 is a fundamental location word indicating a position above or on top of something else. It combines 上 (up/above) with 面 (surface/side) to specify the upper surface or area relative to a reference point.
Usage
Commonly used as a postposition after nouns to indicate location, as in '桌子上面' (on top of the table). In everyday speech, 上面 and 上边 are interchangeable. It can also refer to higher authorities or earlier parts of a text ('上面说过' = as mentioned above).
Examples
- 01书在桌子上面。.The book is on the table.
- 02墙上面挂着一幅画。.There's a painting hanging on the wall.
Characters
Common collocations
- 在...上面...on top of...
- 桌子上面on the table
- 上面写着written on top/above
Antonyms
Origin
Formed by combining the directional 上 (up) with the noun 面 (surface), creating a compound that literally means 'the upper surface.'