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川上 (かわかみ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

川かわ上かみ

か

わ

か

み

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

upper reaches of a river; upstream

Refers to the part of a river near its source, or the direction toward the source. Often contrasted with 川下 (downstream).

See also: 川下

川かわ上かみから冷つめたい水みずが流

なが

れ

て

くる

。

Cold water flows down from the upper reaches of the river.

この魚さかなは川かわ上かみにしかいない。

This fish is found only upstream.

Usage patterns

川かわ上かみから〈物もの〉が流ながれてくるsomething comes floating down from upstream
川かわ上かみから大おおきな桃ももが流ながれてきた。
A big peach came floating down from upstream.
川かわ上かみに向むかうto head upstream
船ふねは川かわ上かみに向むかって進すすんだ。
The boat headed upstream.

Kanji

川stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47)
上above, up

Related words

上じょう流りゅうN1
上流 is the more formal, technical term for the upper reaches of a river, while 川上 is a plainer, more everyday or literary word for the same area.

Opposites

川かわ下しも
川上 refers to the upstream part of a river near its source, while 川下 refers to the downstream part toward the mouth.

Built from

川かわ+上かみ

Written forms

川かわ上かみUsage93%
Standard kanji spelling; no kana-only variant is specified.
カワカミUsage7%

Etymology

Compound of 川 (kawa, 'river') and 上 (kami, 'upper part'). The reading かわかみ is a straightforward combination.