the Emperor; His Majesty
Honorific term for the Emperor; used in respectful contexts.
お上の御前では、誰もがひざまずいた。
Before His Majesty, everyone knelt.
the government; the authorities
Honorific reference to government or officialdom, often with a nuance of distance or deference.
お上の決めたことだから、従うしかない。
Since it's what the authorities have decided, we have no choice but to obey.
proprietress; hostess; landlady
Refers to a female owner or manager of a restaurant, inn, or similar establishment. Also written 女将.
See also: 女将
旅館のお上はとても親切だった。
The landlady of the inn was very kind.
Archaic honorific term for someone's wife. Also written 御内儀 or 内儀.
「お上のご機嫌はいかがかな」と侍が尋ねた。
"How is your wife?" the samurai asked.
Archaic honorific term for one's master or lord.
お上の仰せのままに。
As my lord commands.
Standard modern spelling with honorific prefix お.
Kanji spelling using 御; less common than お上 in modern writing.
Honorific prefix お (御) + 上 (kami, 'above, upper'), literally 'honorable above'. The meaning extended from 'Emperor' to 'authorities' and, in certain contexts, to a female head of an establishment or a wife.