上场

• Pinyin: shàng chǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = upward/onto; 场 = 土 (earth) + 昜 (rising sun/phonetic) = an open ground or field — 上场: to step onto the field or stage

Meaning

To take the field or go on stage; to enter a sports arena or performance venue in order to compete or perform. Also used metaphorically for stepping into an important situation.

Primarily used in sports contexts (上场比赛 — to take the field or court for a match) and performance contexts (上场表演 — to go on stage). Metaphorically extends to any context of actively stepping into an important moment or role. Contrast 下场 (to leave the field/stage) and 出场 (to make an entrance/appear).

Examples

1. 主力前锋因在赛前热身时拉伤了大腿肌肉，教练临时决定调整首发阵容，让年仅十八岁的后备球员提前上场出战。 The starting forward strained his thigh during pregame warm-ups, so the coach made a last-minute change to the lineup and had an 18-year-old substitute come on to play.
2. 演讲比赛即将开始，参赛选手们在后台紧张地背诵稿件，等待着主持人宣布自己的名字后上场登台。 The speech contest was about to begin. The contestants nervously reviewed their scripts backstage, waiting to go on stage after the host announced their names.
3. 谈判进入僵局之后，公司法务总监亲自上场，凭借多年的合同谈判经验成功化解了双方在违约条款上的核心分歧。 After negotiations hit a deadlock, the company’s legal director personally stepped in and, drawing on years of contract-negotiation experience, successfully resolved the core dispute over the breach-of-contract clauses.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, performance, competition, business negotiations

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 主教练说，核心后卫因黄牌停赛，这场比赛先坐替补席，需要时再上场。(The head coach said the key defender is suspended for accumulated yellow cards, so he will start on the bench for this match and enter the game only if needed.)
• 他第一次在国际比赛中上场时很紧张，但随着乐章展开，最终演奏沉稳动人。(He was very nervous the first time he played in an international competition, but as the piece unfolded, he eventually performed with calm and moving expression.)

Don't Say

• 她今天终于上场工作了 — 上场 is used for sports arenas or performance stages, not regular workplaces; use 上班、到岗 or 上岗 for starting work

Origin & History

上 (to go up/onto) + 场 (field/stage/venue) = to go onto the field or stage; to enter the arena

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal