In Mandarin Chinese, 上 (Pinyin: shàng 🔊) has many meanings but all of them are ultimately connected with direction “up”.
Lawrence J. Howell writes in his Etymological Dictionary of Han/Chinese Characters:
A depiction of one line above another, suggesting the idea of rising above (contrast 下) → up; upper; top → rise; raise; offer. Other extended meanings include ascent; readiness; completion; just after; go up; climb; enter; end; increase; improve; on; beyond; first (half); emperor; raise/bring up (a matter); record; upward (bound); go to the capital; and reach.
There are a great number of compounds of 上, for example
- 上 + 上 = 上上 (shàngshàng): the best, great, superb
- 上 + 午 = 上午 (shàngwǔ 🔊): morning
- 上 + 海 = 上海 (Shànghǎi 🔊): Shanghai (literally, “Upon-the-Sea”)
More photos related to ascent, upward, raising, rising and sea glass @ Shutterstock.
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