<p>In Chinese 「上」 just means above no matter further distance.</p>

<p>For addition description, you should use some degree words as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>上面一些  (means a little above)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or add some given distance:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>大概兩米以上 (approximately two meters above)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Actually I do not quite understand what you want to know.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T13:41:22.380Z
+1 Interesting! On a side note, is it the same for 下?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T14:12:22.140Z
Thanks. I just need to make sure that there is no other word than "shang" in chinese that represent on/above, since there are many words in english such as above, on, over that can be use to convey the meaning of "shang".
PleaseHelpMe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T16:36:30.183Z
@PleaseHelpMe If this answer solves your question, make sure you remember to accept it! :) By the way, did you see my comment under your question?
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T18:36:19.093Z
@PleaseHelpMe I suppose there are no more other words to express 'above'.
shouya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T18:36:30.107Z
@Alenanno For 'under', 下 (xia) might be the only word to express so also.
shouya
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-09T03:53:57.267Z
@Alenanno oh i just realise :)
btw how to accept it?Sorry, i'm new here..
PleaseHelpMe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-09T11:30:12.770Z
@PleaseHelpMe I see you accepted it. :) Another thing: if a new answer comes up and you like that one better, you can change your accepted answer. It's up to you. :)
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-12T10:42:14.493Z
okay, i understand now :)
PleaseHelpMe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T12:34:49.640Z
2012-04-10T21:05:58.057Z
2012-04-10T21:05:58.057Z
shouya
<p>I think you miss the point in your attempt to understand the use of 上 to represent on, above or over.</p>

<p>The Chinese language proves there is no need for more than one word to do this as the necessary information is provided entirely in the context of the conversation.</p>

<p>For example, I am thinking of sentences that may appear difficult:</p>

<p>"The bird was on his head", "The bird was over his head"</p>

<p>Which could both be translated in Chinese to something like:
“鸟在他头上”</p>

<p>Out of context you may try and guess whether it is right on his head or right above his head, however it could be either.</p>

<p>Here are some examples of how this could be expanded (taken from Google results):</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li><p>有一只鸟在他头上飞过 — <em>extended, no contact, vertical</em>  </p>
  
  <p>A bird flew <strong>over</strong> his head.</p></li>
  <li><p>鸟在他头上做窝 — <em>contact</em>  </p>
  
  <p>A bird built a nest <strong>on</strong> his head.</p></li>
  <li><p>鸟在他头上飞了几圈 — <em>extended, no contact, vertical</em></p>
  
  <p>The bird circled <strong>above</strong> his head a few times.</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>I would be interested to find an example sentence in English that can not be easily understood in context in the Chinese with the same amount of information.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-10T01:31:49.947Z
2012-04-10T11:31:28.117Z
2012-04-10T11:31:28.117Z
going
<p>I'm interested in the the differences between English and Mandarin when they are talking about spatial preposition.</p>

<p>Can i assume that in Mandarin, they use the preposition 上 for most of the times disregard the spatial differences? For example, in English, there are word like "on", "above", "over", and they have different function in their spatial category, in which "on" should be higher than "above". </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-08T10:48:48.163Z
Hello PleaseHelpMe and welcome to CL&U! :) Can you include some examples to explain what you're asking and where is your problem? Thanks. :)
Alenanno
<mandarin><meaning><usage><meaning-in-context><ambiguity>
The use of 上 (shàng) "on/above/over" in Mandarin and English
# The use of 上 (shàng) "on/above/over" in Mandarin and English

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-08)

I'm interested in the the differences between English and Mandarin when they are talking about spatial preposition.

Can i assume that in Mandarin, they use the preposition 上 for most of the times disregard the spatial differences? For example, in English, there are word like "on", "above", "over", and they have different function in their spatial category, in which "on" should be higher than "above".

**Tags:** mandarin, meaning, usage, meaning-in-context, ambiguity

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hello username_0 and welcome to CL&U! :) Can you include some examples to explain what you're asking and where is your problem? Thanks. :)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-08. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In Chinese 「上」 just means above no matter further distance.

For addition description, you should use some degree words as:

> 上面一些 (means a little above)

Or add some given distance:

> 大概兩米以上 (approximately two meters above)

Actually I do not quite understand what you want to know.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: +1 Interesting! On a side note, is it the same for 下?  
> **username_0**: Thanks. I just need to make sure that there is no other word than "shang" in chinese that represent on/above, since there are many words in english such as above, on, over that can be use to convey the meaning of "shang".  
> **username_1**: @username_0 If this answer solves your question, make sure you remember to accept it! :) By the way, did you see my comment under your question?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I suppose there are no more other words to express 'above'.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 For 'under', 下 (xia) might be the only word to express so also.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 oh i just realise :) btw how to accept it?Sorry, i'm new here..  
> **username_1**: @username_0 I see you accepted it. :) Another thing: if a new answer comes up and you like that one better, you can change your accepted answer. It's up to you. :)  
> **username_0**: okay, i understand now :)  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-04-10. Score: 7

I think you miss the point in your attempt to understand the use of 上 to represent on, above or over.

The Chinese language proves there is no need for more than one word to do this as the necessary information is provided entirely in the context of the conversation.

For example, I am thinking of sentences that may appear difficult:

"The bird was on his head", "The bird was over his head"

Which could both be translated in Chinese to something like:
“鸟在他头上”

Out of context you may try and guess whether it is right on his head or right above his head, however it could be either.

Here are some examples of how this could be expanded (taken from Google results):

> 1. 有一只鸟在他头上飞过 — *extended, no contact, vertical*
>
>    A bird flew **over** his head.
> 2. 鸟在他头上做窝 — *contact*
>
>    A bird built a nest **on** his head.
> 3. 鸟在他头上飞了几圈 — *extended, no contact, vertical*
>
>    The bird circled **above** his head a few times.

I would be interested to find an example sentence in English that can not be easily understood in context in the Chinese with the same amount of information.


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