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上つ方 (うえつがた) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

上うえつ方がた

う

え

つ

が

た

Meanings

1

noun

nobles; the upper class

Archaic term for the nobility or upper class, used in historical contexts. Not used in modern Japanese; replaced by words like 貴族 or 上流階級.

上うえつ方がたの者ものたちは、華はなやかな衣い装しょうをまとっていた。
The nobles wore splendid garments.

Kanji

上above, up
方direction, person, alternative

Similar words

貴き族ぞく
Modern standard term for 'nobility' or 'aristocrat'. 上つ方 is an archaic synonym.
上じょう流りゅう階かい級きゅう
Modern term for 'upper class' in a social sense. 上つ方 is its historical equivalent.

Etymology

Compound of 上 (ue, 'upper') + つ (archaic possessive particle) + 方 (kata, 'direction' or 'person'), literally 'those of the upper direction'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a pattern seen in other archaic terms for social groups.