上じょう等とう

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Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

Describes something of high grade, quality, or rank. Used as a noun, no-adjective, or na-adjective.

Related words· 7

高級 stresses luxury and high price, while 上等 focuses on the intrinsic superior quality or grade of a thing.

一流 describes people, brands, or organizations as top-tier, whereas 上等 is used more for the quality of goods or materials.

上質 is a slightly more neutral, business-like way to say something is high-quality, while 上等 can also carry a tone of praise or approval.

極上 emphasizes the very best, top-of-the-line grade, an even stronger claim than 上等.

Show 3 more

高こう等とうN2
上等 describes something superior or first-rate in quality, often for goods, whereas 高等 is a more formal term for an advanced level or rank, as in schooling or biological classification.
最さい高こう級きゅう
上等 means 'of superior quality' and can apply to everyday items, whereas 最高級 stresses being at the absolute peak of a ranked scale.
上じょう々じょう
上等 usually describes the quality of a thing (a high-grade item), while 上々 describes the excellence of a result, state, or performance.

Opposites

下等 means low-grade or inferior, the direct opposite of 上等's high-grade sense.

粗悪 describes something shoddy or poorly made, contrasting with the fine quality implied by 上等.

上等 means high-grade or superior quality, while 中等 refers to a middling grade sitting below it.

Don't confuse with

上出来 praises how well a task or result turned out, while 上等 describes the inherent grade or quality of an item itself.

上等 shares the kanji 等 with 一等 and can also translate as 'top-notch', but it describes quality rather than ranking first.