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How to say 'Upper class' or 'Upstream' in Japanese | 上流

Wondering how to say 'Upper class' or 'Upstream' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Upper class or Upstream is 'Jouryuu', written as 上流 in Japanese.'Upper class' or 'Upstream' in hiragana is じょうりゅう.

    word

    上流

    Meaning

    Upper class, Upstream

    Reading

    じょうりゅう

    jouryuu

    Kanji

    上Up 流Flow

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '上流 (じょうりゅう)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning is 'upstream', referring to the direction toward the source of a river or stream. For example: the fish swim upstream「魚は上流へ泳ぐ」(さかなはじょうりゅうへおよぐ). The second meaning is 'upper class', referring to the highest social class or elite group in society. For example: she comes from an upper-class family「彼女は上流の家庭出身です」(かのじょはじょうりゅうのかていしゅっしんです). These two meanings are unrelated and depend on the context in which the word is used.

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N3

    Kanji Grade

    3

    Frequency

    6241

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 上流

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    上

    Meaning

    Up

  • kanji

    流

    Meaning

    Flow

Words Related to 上流 Through the Kanji 上

These 54 Words contain the Kanji 上 as well.

  • word

    上

    Meaning

    Top, Above

  • word

    以上

    Meaning

    More than, No more

  • word

    上げる

    Meaning

    Give, Raise

  • word

    上り

    Meaning

    Ascent

  • word

    上着

    Meaning

    Jacket

  • word

    立ち上がる

    Meaning

    Rise up, Standup

  • word

    上る

    Meaning

    Rise, Climb

  • word

    取り上げる

    Meaning

    Take up, Confiscate

  • word

    上昇

    Meaning

    Rise, Ascent

  • word

    上がる

    Meaning

    Enter, Rise

  • word

    上下

    Meaning

    Updown

  • word

    上達

    Meaning

    Improvement

  • word

    向上

    Meaning

    Improvement

  • word

    最上

    Meaning

    Best, Supreme

  • word

    仕上げ

    Meaning

    Finishing

  • word

    仕上げる

    Meaning

    Finish

  • word

    屋上

    Meaning

    Rooftop

  • word

    上手

    Meaning

    Skilled

  • word

    上品

    Meaning

    Elegant

  • word

    上司

    Meaning

    Boss

  • word

    地上

    Meaning

    Ground

  • word

    打ち上げる

    Meaning

    Celebrate, Launch

  • word

    差し上げる

    Meaning

    Give

  • word

    申し上げる

    Meaning

    Say

  • word

    売り上げ

    Meaning

    Sales

  • word

    上等

    Meaning

    Superior

  • word

    見上げる

    Meaning

    Lookup

  • word

    引き上げる

    Meaning

    Raise, Withdraw

  • word

    出来上がる

    Meaning

    Complete

  • word

    上記

    Meaning

    Above

  • word

    起き上がる

    Meaning

    Getup

  • word

    作り上げる

    Meaning

    Complete, Fabricate

  • word

    上旬

    Meaning

    First ten days of the month

  • word

    海上

    Meaning

    Sea

  • word

    出来上がり

    Meaning

    Completion

  • word

    目上

    Meaning

    Superior

  • word

    上陸

    Meaning

    Landing

  • word

    値上がり

    Meaning

    Price increase

  • word

    値上げ

    Meaning

    Price hike

  • word

    上回る

    Meaning

    Exceed

  • word

    途上

    Meaning

    Way

  • word

    持ち上げる

    Meaning

    Lift

  • word

    年上

    Meaning

    Older

  • word

    盛り上がる

    Meaning

    Excite

  • word

    飛び上がる

    Meaning

    Jump

  • word

    浮かび上がる

    Meaning

    Surface, Emerge

  • word

    上位

    Meaning

    Higher rank, Superior position

  • word

    陸上

    Meaning

    Land

  • word

    計上

    Meaning

    Inclusion

  • word

    上場

    Meaning

    Listing

  • word

    上級

    Meaning

    Advanced

  • word

    盛り上げる

    Meaning

    Boost

  • word

    頂上

    Meaning

    Summit

  • word

    召し上がる

    Meaning

    Eat, Drink

Words Related to 上流 Through the Kanji 流

These 17 Words contain the Kanji 流 as well.

  • word

    流れる

    Meaning

    Flow

  • word

    流れ

    Meaning

    Flow

  • word

    流す

    Meaning

    Flow, Cancel

  • word

    流石

    Meaning

    As expected

  • word

    流

    Meaning

    Style, Flow

  • word

    交流

    Meaning

    Exchange, Interaction

  • word

    下流

    Meaning

    Downstream, Lower class

  • word

    海流

    Meaning

    Current

  • word

    三流

    Meaning

    Third rate

  • word

    流行る

    Meaning

    Trend

  • word

    主流

    Meaning

    Mainstream

  • word

    一流

    Meaning

    Top class

  • word

    流通

    Meaning

    Distribution

  • word

    中流

    Meaning

    Middle class

  • word

    二流

    Meaning

    Second rate

  • word

    流行

    Meaning

    Epidemic, Trend

  • word

    流動

    Meaning

    Flow, Fluidity

Learn the Word 上流

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Jouryuu' (上流) mean?

'Jouryuu' means 'Upper class' or 'Upstream' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.