上に
ue ni
As well; not only… but also
Adds an additional positive or neutral point, meaning 'not only... but also' or 'as well'.
How to form it
Attach to the plain form of verbs or adjectives (dictionary form or past tense), or to nouns with である. For な-adjectives, use である. For い-adjectives, use either the dictionary form or the past form.
What it means
上に connects two clauses where the second adds another favorable or neutral aspect to the first. It emphasizes that there is more than one thing, often with a positive nuance. The pattern is fairly logical: 上 means 'top', so you are stacking an additional point on top of another.
A common structure is [plain form] + 上に + [clause]. For example: このレストランは安い上に美味しい。 This means the restaurant is cheap and also delicious. The first clause sets a baseline, and the second adds something extra that makes the overall evaluation stronger.
Note that 上に is more formal and used in writing or polite speech. In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often use し or し、それに instead. Also, be careful not to overuse it with negative points—it is natural with positive or neutral facts, but less so with negative ones.
Example sentences
このアパートは駅に近い上に、家賃も安い。
Kono apaato wa eki ni chikai ue ni, yachin mo yasui.
This apartment is close to the station, and the rent is also cheap.
彼女は頭がいい上に、親切です。
Kanojo wa atama ga ii ue ni, shinsetsu desu.
She is not only smart but also kind.
この本は内容が面白い上に、値段も手頃だ。
Kono hon wa naiyou ga omoshiroi ue ni, nedan mo tegoro da.
This book has interesting content, and the price is reasonable too.
Don’t confuse it with
上で (ue de)
上で means 'after doing' (e.g., 話し合った上で決める 'decide after discussing'), while 上に simply adds another point. Look at the second clause: if it expresses an action done after the first, it's 上で; if it adds a description, it's 上に.
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Neutral to slightly formal; common in writing and polite speech, but less common in casual conversation, where し or し、それに are preferred.
Next in the N3 path
9Questions
What does 上に mean?
As well; not only… but also. Adds an additional positive or neutral point, meaning 'not only... but also' or 'as well'.
How do you form 上に?
Attach to the plain form of verbs or adjectives (dictionary form or past tense), or to nouns with である. For な-adjectives, use である. For い-adjectives, use either the dictionary form or the past form.
Example of 上に in a sentence
このアパートは駅に近い上に、家賃も安い。 — This apartment is close to the station, and the rent is also cheap.
上で (ue de) — what is the difference?
上で means 'after doing' (e.g., 話し合った上で決める 'decide after discussing'), while 上に simply adds another point. Look at the second clause: if it expresses an action done after the first, it's 上で; if it adds a description, it's 上に.
What JLPT level is 上に?
JLPT N3 (intermediate), number 8 of 182 in Nihoner's learning order for N3.
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