noun
upper reaches of a river; upstream
Used in the old/basic opposition 上（かみ） and 下（しも）, especially for the upstream or upper side of a river or region.
Antonyms: 下 (しも)
この川の上には小さな村がある。
There is a small village upstream on this river.
noun
upper part; top; upper half of the body
Limited use of かみ for the upper part of something; in ordinary modern speech, うえ or 上半身 is often used instead depending on the meaning.
古い説明では、体の上が上半身を指すことがある。
In older descriptions, 上 can refer to the upper half of the body.
noun
Archaic noun use meaning an earlier age or the distant past; not a normal modern way to say 'long ago.'
古語の注では、上が「昔」の意味で説明されることがある。
In notes on classical language, 上 is sometimes explained as meaning 'the past.'
noun
Used for the first or earlier part in certain traditional expressions, especially in contrast with 下（しも）.
百人一首では、上の句を聞いて下の句を取る。
In Hyakunin Isshu, players hear the first half of the poem and take the card with the second half.
noun
person of high rank; the emperor; a noble
Respectful or old-fashioned use for someone socially above others, especially the emperor or a noble person.
See also: 御上
古い文章では、上が帝や貴人を指すことがある。
In old writing, 上 can refer to the emperor or a noble person.
noun
the government; the imperial court; the authorities
Historical or old-fashioned use for the ruling authorities, the court, or the government; related to 御上（おかみ）.
時代劇では、上の沙汰という言い方で役所や幕府の決定を指すことがある。
In period dramas, the phrase 上の沙汰 can refer to a decision by the authorities or the shogunate.
noun
the imperial capital; Kyoto; the capital region; direction of the palace
Historical geographical use: the direction or region of the imperial palace, especially Kyoto or the Kansai capital region, as opposed to lower or outlying areas.
See also: 上方 (かみがた)
江戸から見ると、京都は上の方に当たる。
From Edo's point of view, Kyoto lay in the direction of the capital.
noun
head of a table; seat of honor
Used for the higher-status end of a seating arrangement; modern Japanese more commonly says 上座（かみざ）.
宴席では、床の間に近い席が上とされた。
At a banquet, the seat near the alcove was treated as the place of honor.
noun
wife; mistress of a restaurant; female proprietor
Limited respectful or familiar use for a wife or female proprietor. In modern Japanese, 妻 or 奥さん is ordinary for 'wife,' かみさん is colloquial, and 女将（おかみ） is common for the mistress of an inn or restaurant.
彼は自分の妻を「上さん」と呼んだ。
He called his wife 'kami-san.'
古い用法では、店の女主人も上と呼ばれた。
In older usage, the female proprietor of a shop could also be called 上.
The direct opposite of 上（かみ） in several senses, such as downstream, lower part, later part, or lower-status side.
The ordinary modern reading for 'above,' 'on top of,' or 'upper area.' 上（かみ） is older, more restricted, or used in set contrasts with 下（しも）.
A related word for the authorities or government; more recognizable in modern historical or idiomatic contexts than standalone 上（かみ） for this sense.
A common compound meaning the seat of honor; it preserves the same かみ idea of the higher-status side.
Native Japanese reading of 上 associated with the idea of an upper, earlier, or higher-status side. Several later senses extend this spatial idea to status, authority, and the capital, but the exact historical development of each minor sense is not specified.