also: かみて
na-adjective, noun
General term for the upper portion of something. Can be used as a noun or adjectival noun.
棚の上手に重い物を置かないでください。
Please don't put heavy things on the upper part of the shelf.
noun
upper stream; upper course of a river
Only with reading かみて
Refers to the upstream portion of a river. Reading is かみて.
この川の上手にはダムがある。
There is a dam in the upper course of this river.
noun
stage left (actor's POV); right side of the stage (audience's POV)
Only with reading かみて
Theater and performance term. From the audience's perspective, it is the right side of the stage; from the actor's perspective, it is stage left. Reading is かみて.
俳優は上手から登場した。
The actor entered from stage left.
na-adjective, noun
Only with reading うわて
Used in comparisons to indicate greater skill or ability. Often appears in phrases like 一枚上手 (one level above). Reading is うわて.
彼は私より一枚上手だ。
He is one step ahead of me in skill.
noun
over-arm grip on opponent's belt
Only with reading うわて
Sumo term for a grip where the wrestler reaches over the opponent's arm to grab the back of the belt. Reading is うわて.
横綱は上手を取って一気に寄り切った。
The yokozuna got an over-arm belt grip and quickly forced his opponent out.
Kana spelling used when the うわて reading is intended, especially for the sumo term or to avoid confusion with かみて.
Kana spelling used when the かみて reading is intended, especially for stage directions or river geography.
The kanji 上 (up/above) and 手 (hand) combine to suggest 'upper hand' or 'upstream'. The reading うわて derives from 上 (うわ, upper) + 手 (て, hand), while かみて comes from 上 (かみ, upper/upstream) + 手 (て).