上かみ

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.

• 古ふるい説せつ明めいでは、体からだの上かみが上じょう半はん身しんを指さすことがある。

  In older descriptions, 上 can refer to the upper half of the body.

noun

long ago; former times

Archaic noun use meaning an earlier age or the distant past; not a normal modern way to say 'long ago.'

• 古こ語ごの注ちゅうでは、上かみが「昔むかし」の意い味みで説せつ明めいされることがある。

  In notes on classical language, 上 is sometimes explained as meaning 'the past.'

noun

beginning; first part

Used for the first or earlier part in certain traditional expressions, especially in contrast with 下（しも）.

• 百ひゃく人にん一いっ首しゅでは、上かみの句くを聞きいて下しもの句くを取とる。

  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: お上

• 古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、上かみが帝みかどや貴き人じんを指さすことがある。

  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）.

• 時じ代だい劇げきでは、上かみの沙さ汰たという言いい方かたで役やく所しょや幕ばく府ふの決けっ定ていを指さすことがある。

  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)

• 江え戸どから見みると、京きょう都とは上かみの方ほうに当あたる。

  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）.

• 宴えん席せきでは、床とこの間まに近ちかい席せきが上かみとされた。

  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.

• 彼かれは自じ分ぶんの妻つまを「上かみさん」と呼よんだ。

  He called his wife 'kami-san.'

• 古ふるい用よう法ほうでは、店みせの女おんな主しゅ人じんも上かみと呼よばれた。

  In older usage, the female proprietor of a shop could also be called 上.