事じ実じつ上じょう

じ

つ

じょ

う

Common word

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb

in effect; effectively; practically; for all practical purposes

Describes a situation that is not officially or formally the case, but is true in practical terms. Often used in news and formal contexts to contrast appearance with reality.

その会かい社しゃは事じ実じつ

上じょう

倒とう

産さん

し

て

いる

。

The company is effectively bankrupt.

彼かれが事じ実じつ上じょうのリーダーだ。

He is the de facto leader.

Usage patterns

事じ実じつ上じょうの〈物もの〉the de facto ~ (a person or thing that functions as such in practice, though not officially)
彼かれはこの会かい社しゃの事じ実じつ上じょうの経けい営えい者しゃだ。
He is the de facto manager of this company.
事じ実じつ上じょう〈動どう詞し〉to effectively (do/be) something, as an adverbial qualifier before a verb
その計けい画かくは事じ実じつ上じょう中ちゅう止しされた。
The plan was effectively cancelled.

Expressions

事じ実じつ上じょうの標ひょう準じゅんde facto standard

Kanji

事matter, thing, fact
実reality, truth, seed
上above, up

Related words

実じっ際さいにN3
実際に means 'actually' or 'in reality' for concrete, factual situations, while 事実上 emphasizes a practical state that may differ from the official or formal one.
実じっ質しつ的てき
実質的 is often used in economic or quantitative contexts to mean 'substantially' or 'in real terms', while 事実上 more broadly contrasts an unofficial practical reality with a formal status.

Opposites

名めい目もく上じょう
名目上 means 'in name only' or 'nominally', the direct opposite of 事実上, which means 'in effect' or 'in practice'.

Word family

事じ実じつ上じょう標ひょう準じゅん
de facto standard
事じ実じつ上じょう不ふ可か能のう
effectively impossible; practically impossible

Built from

事じ実じつ+上じょう

Etymology

Compound of 事実 (fact, reality) and 上 (above, on), literally 'on the fact', meaning 'in terms of reality'.