～上（に）

• Reading: うえに
• Romaji: ue ni
• Formation: Verb plain form + 上（に）/ い-Adj + 上（に）/ な-Adj + な + 上（に）/ Noun + の + 上（に）/ Noun + である + 上（に）
• Kanji breakdown: 上 (うえ): above, on top of

Meaning

A conjunction meaning 'in addition to' or 'on top of,' used to introduce a further statement that adds emphasis to what has already been stated.

上に connects two facts or situations where the second one adds to or reinforces the first. It can follow verbs, adjectives, and nouns (with appropriate modifications). Unlike その上, which functions as a sentence-initial conjunction, 上に integrates more tightly within a sentence, directly following a clause. It often implies that the combination of the two things makes the situation particularly noteworthy, whether positively or negatively. The に is sometimes omitted in more casual speech.

Examples

1. 道に迷った上に、財布も落としてしまった。 On top of getting lost, I also dropped my wallet.
2. この店は安い上に、量も多い。 This shop is cheap, and on top of that, the portions are large.
3. 彼は親切な上に、頭もいい。 He is kind, and on top of that, he is smart.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 雨が降っている上に、風も強い。
• このアパートは静かな上に、日当たりもいい。
• 遅刻した上に、宿題も忘れてきた。

Don't Say

• 安い上で、おいしい。(Using で instead of に after 上 — the correct particle is に or omitted entirely) → 安い上に、おいしい。
• きれい上に、優しい。(Missing な before 上に after a な-adjective — な-adjectives require な before 上に) → きれいな上に、優しい。

Origin & History

Uses 上 (うえ, above/on top) as a grammatical connector. The metaphor of stacking one thing on top of another conveys addition and emphasis.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal