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上層 (じょうそう, jousou) Japanese meaning: upper layer | Kotomora

上じょう層そう

じょ

う

そ

う

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

upper layer; upper stratum; upper level

Refers to a higher physical layer, social class, or organizational level. Common in contexts like geology, atmosphere, society, and building stories.

大たい気きの上じょう層そうにはオゾン層そうがある。

The ozone layer is in the upper layer of the atmosphere.

彼かれは社しゃ会かいの上じょう層そう階かい級きゅうに属ぞくしている。

He belongs to the upper class of society.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の上じょう層そうthe upper layer/level of ~
大たい気きの上じょう層そうでは気き温おんが低ひくい。
In the upper atmosphere, the temperature is low.
社しゃ会かいの上じょう層そうに位い置ちするto occupy a position in the upper stratum of society
彼かれの一いち族ぞくは社しゃ会かいの上じょう層そうに位い置ちしていた。
His family occupied the upper stratum of society.

Kanji

上above, up
層stratum, social class, layer

Related words

上じょう部ぶ
上層 emphasizes a stratified layer or hierarchical level (social, atmospheric, geological), while 上部 more simply means the upper part of something physical.
上じょう流りゅうN1
上層 refers broadly to an upper stratum or level (e.g. of an organization), whereas 上流 specifically means the wealthy, high-status class of society.

Opposites

下か層そう
上層 refers to the upper layer or class, while 下層 refers to the lower layer or class.
底てい辺へん
上層 refers to the upper class or top layer of society, the opposite of 底辺, the lowest layer.

Don't confuse with

高こう層そうN2
上層 means an upper layer or class within a stratified structure, whereas 高層 describes physical height, as in a tall building (高層ビル).

Word family· 10

上じょう層そう土ど
topsoil
上じょう層そう水すい
surface water; upper layer water
上じょう層そう語ご
superstratum; superstrate
上じょう層そう部ぶ
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management

Etymology

Compound of 上 (upper) and 層 (layer, stratum). The reading is on'yomi.

上じょう層そう階かい

upper floor; upper storey

Show 5 more

上じょう層そう風ふう
winds aloft; upper-level winds
上じょう層そう建けん築ちく
superstructure; upper stories
上じょう層そう方ほう言げん
acrolect
上じょう層そう気き流りゅう
upper air currents; upper-level airflow
上じょう層そう階かい級きゅう
upper class; high society