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Formation: N (mostly Sino-Japanese nouns) + 上; 上（は） / 上の + N / 上も

Attached to a noun, 上 (read じょう) means 'from the standpoint of X' or 'for reasons of X', like English -wise or -ally: 法律上 (legally), 教育上 (educationally), 健康上 (for health reasons), 立場上 (given one's position). It also means 'on' a medium or plane: インターネット上, 地図上, 画面上. It is compact and formal, typical of written Japanese, official statements and business language, and it mostly attaches to Sino-Japanese nouns. Compare 〜から言うと, which also gives a viewpoint but takes a wider range of words and sounds more conversational. 〜において means 'in' a field or place. Do not confuse it with 〜上で (うえで, 'after doing / for the purpose of') or 〜上に ('on top of').

Variants: 上は、上の、上も

Examples

• 未成年の飲酒は法律上禁止されている。
  Drinking by minors is prohibited by law.
• 立場上、その質問にはお答えできません。
  Given my position, I am unable to answer that question.
• インターネット上の情報をうのみにするのは危険だ。
  It is dangerous to swallow information on the internet whole.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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