Chinese

		up; on; on top up; on; on top; upon; first; previous or last; upper; higher; above; previous; to climb; to go into; to go up	under; second; next under; second; next; lower; below; underneath; down(wards); to decline; to go down; latter
simp. and trad. (上下)		上	下

Noun

上下

1. high and low
2. from top to bottom
3. up and down
4. old and young
5. relative superiority or inferiority

Postposition

上下

1. about; or so

Verb

上下

1. to go up and down

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Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(がり) Grade: 1	お(り) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上がり ‎(agari, “rising, going up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上がる agaru, “to rise, to go up”) +‎ 下り ‎(ori, “descending, going down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下りる oriru, “to descend, to go down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) あがり​おり [àgáríꜜòrì] (Nakadaka - [3])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡ̃a̠ɾio̞ɾi]

Alternative forms

• 上がり下り, 上がり降り

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana あがりおり, romaji agariori)

1. ascending and descending, ascent and descent

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana あがりさがりする, romaji agarisagari suru)

1. to ascend and descend, to go up and go down

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(がり) Grade: 1	さ(がり) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上がり ‎(agari, “rising, going up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上がる agaru, “to rise, to go up”) +‎ 下がり ‎(sagari, “coming down, hanging down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下がる sagaru, “to come down, to hang down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) あがり​さがり [àgáríꜜsàgàrì] (Nakadaka - [3])^[2]
• (Tokyo) あがりさがり [àgáríságárí] (Heiban - [0])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡ̃a̠ɾisa̠ɡ̃a̠ɾi]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana あがりさがり, romaji agarisagari)

1. rise and fall, fluctuation (as a level of something, such as a price)

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana あがりさがりする, romaji agarisagari suru)

1. to rise and fall, to fluctuate (as a level of something, such as a price)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	お(ろし) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上げ ‎(age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下ろし ‎(oroshi, “lowering, bringing down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下ろす orosu, “to lower something, to bring something down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) あげおろし [àgéóróshí] (Heiban - [0])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡ̃e̞o̞ɺ̠o̞ɕi]

Alternative forms

• 上げ下ろし, 揚げ卸し

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana あげおろし, romaji ageoroshi)

1. raising and lowering of something
2. loading and unloading (as of the cargo in a ship)
3. weaving on a loom (from the way the warp is raised and lowered)

Idioms

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	くだ(し) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上げ ‎(age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下だし ‎(kudashi, “putting something down; passing something through one's gut”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下す kudasu, “to put something down; to pass something through one's gut”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) あげくだし [àgékúdáshí] (Heiban - [0])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡ̃e̞kɯᵝda̠ɕi]

Alternative forms

• 上げ下し

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana あげくだし, romaji agekudashi)

1. bringing something back up and passing something → vomiting and having diarrhea

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
上	下
あ(げ) Grade: 1	さ(げ) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上げ ‎(age, “raising, lifting up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上げる ageru, “to raise something, to lift something up”) +‎ 下げ ‎(sage, “lowering something, hanging something down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下げる sageru, “to lower something, to hang something down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) あげ​さげ [àgéꜜsàgè] (Nakadaka - [2])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɡ̃e̞sa̠ɡ̃e̞]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana あげさげ, romaji agesage)

1. raising and lowering of something
2. (more specifically) the raising and lowering of prices
3. praising and berating someone
4. good times and bad times]], thick and thin
5. the start and finish of something (such as the process of setting a table for a meal, and then clearing up afterwards)
6. the ebb and flow of the tides

Idioms

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana あげさげする, romaji agesage suru)

1. to raise and lower something
2. (more specifically) to raise and lower prices
3. to praise and berate someone
4. to start and finish something (such as the process of setting a table for a meal, and then clearing up afterwards)
5. to ebb and flow, such as the tides

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
上	下
うえ Grade: 1	した Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上 ‎(ue, “up”) +‎ 下 ‎(shita, “down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) うえ​した [ùéꜜshìtà] (Nakadaka - [2])^[2][3]
• IPA^(key): [ɯᵝe̞ɕita̠]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana うえした, romaji ueshita, historical hiragana うへした)

1. up and down, the upper and the lower
2. the nobility and the commoners
3. (in reference to western-style clothing) upper clothing (such as shirts and jackets) and lower clothing (such as trousers and socks)
4. outerwear and underwear
5. upside-down

Idioms

Synonyms

• (upside-down): 逆様 (さかさま) ‎(sakasama)

Etymology 7

Kanji in this term
上	下
かみ Grade: 1	しも Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上 ‎(kami, “up, upper; first”) +‎ 下 ‎(shimo, “down, lower; last”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation 1

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) か​みしも [káꜜmìshìmò] (Atamadaka - [1])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [ka̠miɕimo̞]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana かみしも, romaji kamishimo)

1. the upper and the lower
   1. (more specifically) upstream and downstream
   2. (more specifically) upstage and downstage
   3. (more specifically) high status and low status
   4. (more specifically) the city and the countryside
   5. (more specifically) the upper body and the lower body
   6. (more specifically) the first three lines and the last two lines of a traditional waka poem
   7. (more specifically) the first half the last half of a month
2. various things

Pronunciation 2

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) かみしも [kàmíshímó] (Heiban - [0])^[2][3]
• IPA^(key): [ka̠miɕimo̞]

Alternative forms

• 裃

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana かみしも, romaji kamishimo)

1. (traditional Japanese clothing) the robe and hakama as a set
2. (by extension) extreme formality

Etymology 8

Kanji in this term
上	下
か(り) Grade: 1	め(り) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上り ‎(kari, “rising in tone”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る karu, “to rise in tone”) +‎ 下り ‎(meri, “falling in tone”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下る meru, “to fall in tone”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) かりめり [kàrímérí] (Heiban - [0])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠ɾime̞ɾi]

Alternative forms

• 上り下り, 甲乙

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana かりめり, romaji karimeri)

1. (music) a rise in tone and a fall in tone

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana かりめりする, romaji karimeri suru)

1. (music) to rise and fall in tone

Etymology 9

Kanji in this term
上	下
しょう Grade: 1	か Grade: 1
on'yomi

/ɕauka/ → /ɕɔːka/ → /ɕoːka/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 ‎(dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Cantonese reading soeng⁶ haa⁶ or Hakka song-ha.

The kan'on, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

• On'yomi: Kan'on
• (Tokyo) しょ​うか [shóꜜòkà] (Atamadaka - [1])^[2][3]
• IPA^(key): [ɕo̞ːka̠]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana しょうか, romaji shōka, historical hiragana しやうか)

1. up and down
2. the upper and the lower (especially, the rulers and the ruled)
3. rising and falling
4. an exchange of opinions

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana しょうかする, romaji shōka suru, historical hiragana しやうかする)

1. to rise and fall
2. to exchange opinions

Etymology 10

Kanji in this term
上	下
じょう Grade: 1	か Grade: 1
on'yomi

/d͡ʑauka/ → /d͡ʑɔːka/ → /d͡ʑoːka/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 ‎(dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Min Nan alternative reading chiūⁿ hā.

A mixed reading, using the goon of jō and the kan'on of ka.

Pronunciation

• On'yomi
• (Tokyo) じょ​うか [jóꜜòkà] (Atamadaka - [1])^[2][3]
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ːka̠]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana じょうか, romaji jōka, historical hiragana じやうか)

1. up and down
2. high grade and low grade
3. the upper and lower houses of the Diet or parliament
4. ascending and descending, climbing up and climbing down

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana じょうかする, romaji jōka suru, historical hiragana じやうかする)

1. to ascend and descend, to climb up and climb down

Etymology 11

Kanji in this term
上	下
じょう Grade: 1	げ Grade: 1
on'yomi

/d͡ʑauge/ → /d͡ʑɔːge/ → /d͡ʑoːge/

From Middle Chinese compound 上下 ‎(dzyang^H hæ^X, literally “up and down”). Compare modern Cantonese reading soeng⁶ haa⁶, Hakka song-ha, or Min Nan alternative reading chiūⁿ hā.

The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

• On'yomi: Goon
• (Tokyo) じょ​うげ [jóꜜògè] (Atamadaka - [1])^[2][3]
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ːɡ̃e̞]

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana じょうげ, romaji jōge, historical hiragana じやうげ)

1. the high and the low, the upper and the lower
2. (clothing) a suit, a set of clothing consisting of garments for the upper and lower body
3. rising and falling, ascent and descent
4. the city and the country (the city is considered “up”)
5. north and south (north is considered “up”)
6. volumes one and two of a two-volume book or other document
7. roundtrip travel on a river, going both upstream and downstream
8. high rank and low rank
9. the nobility and the commoners
10. the lord and the ministers
11. the old and the young
12. an exchange of words, a discussion, question and answer

Derived terms

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana じょうげする, romaji jōge suru, historical hiragana じやうげする)

1. to rise and fall, to ascend and descend
2. to travel roundtrip on a river, going both upstream and downstream
3. to exchange words, to discuss, to question and answer

Etymology 12

Kanji in this term
上	下
のぼ(り) Grade: 1	お(り) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上ぼり ‎(nobori, “climbing, going up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る noboru, “to climb, to go up”) +‎ 下り ‎(ori, “descending, going down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下りる oriru, “to descend, to go down”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) のぼり​おり [nòbóríꜜòrì] (Nakadaka - [3])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [no̞bo̞ɾio̞ɾi]

Alternative forms

• 上ぼり下り, 上り下り

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana のぼりおり, romaji noboriori)

1. ascending and descending, climbing and coming back down (particularly as of a person or thing travelling or moving up and down, such as stairs or levels)

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana のぼりおりする, romaji noboriori suru)

1. to ascend and descend, to climb and come back down (particularly as of a person or thing travelling or moving up and down, such as stairs or levels)

Etymology 13

Kanji in this term
上	下
のぼ(り) Grade: 1	くだ(り) Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 上ぼり ‎(nobori, “climbing, going up”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 上る noboru, “to climb, to go up”) +‎ 下り ‎(kudari, “descending, coming down”, the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 下る kudaru, “to descend a path, to come down a path”).^[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) のぼりくだり [nòbóríkúdárí] (Heiban - [0])^[2]
• (Tokyo) のぼり​くだり [nòbóríꜜkùdàrì] (Nakadaka - [3])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [no̞bo̞ɾikɯᵝda̠ɾi]

Alternative forms

• 上り下り

Noun

上下 ‎(hiragana のぼりくだり, romaji noborikudari)

1. climbing up and climbing down (particularly as of a person or path travelling or moving up and down, such as a road going uphill and downhill in the mountains)
2. going upstream and downstream (such as on a river, or on a highway with “up” indicating towards a city)

Verb

上下する ‎(hiragana のぼりくだりする, romaji noborikudari suru)

1. to climb up and climb down
2. to go upstream and downstream (such as on a river, or on a highway with “up” indicating towards a city)

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9
3. 1 2 3 4 5 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, ISBN 978-4-14-011112-3