上じょう等とう

じょ

う

と

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

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

superior; first-class; excellent; top quality

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

この店みせは上じょう等とうな食しょく材ざいだけを使つかっている。
This shop uses only top-quality ingredients.
彼かれは上じょう等とうのスーツを着きて面めん接せつに行いった。
He went to the interview wearing a first-class suit.

interjection

bring it on!; just fine!

Interjection used to accept a challenge or express defiant approval, often in a rough or casual tone.

「お前まえ、やる気きか？」「上じょう等とうだ、かかってこい。」
"You wanna fight?" "Bring it on, come at me."

See all 18 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

上じょう等とうな〈物もの〉a fine/high-quality ~
彼かれは上じょう等とうな着き物ものを着きていた。
He was wearing a fine kimono.
上じょう等とうだused defiantly to accept a challenge: 'bring it on!'
けんかなら上じょう等とうだ、いつでも来こい。
A fight? Bring it on, anytime.
〈物もの〉は上じょう等とうだ~ is of superior quality
このワインは上じょう等とうだ。
This wine is top quality.

Kanji

上above, up
等etc., and so forth, class (first)

Related words· 7

高こう級きゅうN3sense 1
高級 stresses luxury and high price, while 上等 focuses on the intrinsic superior quality or grade of a thing.
一いち流りゅうN3sense 1
一流 describes people, brands, or organizations as top-tier, whereas 上等 is used more for the quality of goods or materials.
上じょう質しつ sense 1
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.
極ごく上じょう sense 1
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

下か等とうN1sense 1
下等 means low-grade or inferior, the direct opposite of 上等's high-grade sense.
粗そ悪あく sense 1
粗悪 describes something shoddy or poorly made, contrasting with the fine quality implied by 上等.
中ちゅう等とう
上等 means high-grade or superior quality, while 中等 refers to a middling grade sitting below it.

Don't confuse with

上じょう出で来き sense 1
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.
一いっ等とうN1
上等 shares the kanji 等 with 一等 and can also translate as 'top-notch', but it describes quality rather than ranking first.

Word family

上じょう等とう兵へい
private first class; airman first class; lance corporal; seaman
上じょう等とう品ひん
first-class article; high-quality goods
上じょう等とう兵へい曹そう
chief petty officer

Etymology

From 上 (upper, superior) and 等 (class, grade). The interjection sense likely developed from the idea of something being 'top-class' and thus acceptable or welcome in a confrontational context.