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上世 (じょうせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

上世かみつよ

also: かみつよ

Meanings

1

noun

antiquity; ancient times

Refers to the distant past, often in historical or literary contexts. The reading じょうせい is standard; かみつよ is archaic.

上じょう世せいの遺い跡せきから貴き重ちょうな土ど器きが発はっ掘くつされた。
Valuable pottery was excavated from the ruins of ancient times.
この風ふう習しゅうは上じょう世せいにまで遡さかのぼることができる。
This custom can be traced back to antiquity.

Written forms

上世Usage100%
- じょうせい
  Standard kanji spelling; じょうせい is the more common reading in modern contexts.
- かみつよ
  Archaic reading; mainly found in classical texts or historical references.

かみつよ

Kanji

上above, up
世generation, world, society

Similar words

古こ代だい
古代 is the common word for 'ancient times' in everyday and academic use; 上世 is more literary and less frequent.
上じょう古こ
上古 also means 'ancient times' but often specifically refers to the earliest historical period; 上世 is broader and less technical.

Etymology

Compound of 上 (early, upper) and 世 (age, era). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with 'ancient times'.