（在）……上

(zài) … shàng

Meaning

上 is a locality noun used after another noun.

Besides “on the surface of something”, it also expresses “in terms of”, “regarding”, or “in a certain aspect”.

It often appears in the pattern 在……上.

1. Referring to location

在 + Noun + 上 → on

书(Shū)在(zài)桌(zhuō)子(zi)上(shàng)。

The book is on the table.

猫(Māo)在(zài)椅(yǐ)子(zi)上(shàng)。

The cat is on the chair.

2. Referring to an aspect or field

In this usage 上 means “in terms of”, “regarding”, or “in the area of”.

在 + Noun + 上

今(Jīn)天(tiān)的(de)作(zuò)业(yè)是(shì)复(fù)习(xí)生(shēng)词(cí)，明(míng)天(tiān)课(kè)上(shàng)听(tīng)写(xiě)。

Today's homework is to review the new words. Tomorrow there will be a dictation in class.

Here 课上 means “in class”.

你(Nǐ)觉(jué)得(de)北(Běi)方(fāng)和(hé)南(Nán)方(fāng)在(zài)饮(yǐn)食(shí)上(shàng)有(yǒu)什(shén)么(me)不(bù)同(tóng)？

What differences do you think there are between the North and the South in terms of food?

Here 在饮食上 means “in terms of diet”.

两(Liǎng)个(ge)人(rén)共(gòng)同(tóng)生(shēng)活(huó)，不(bù)仅(jǐn)需(xū)要(yào)浪(làng)漫(màn)的(de)爱(ài)情(qíng)，更(gèng)需(xū)要(yào)性(xìng)格(gé)上(shàng)互(hù)相(xiāng)吸(xī)引(yǐn)。

For two people to live together, they need not only romantic love but also compatibility in personality.

Here 性格上 means “in terms of personality”.

Common expressions

……上	→
学习上	in studies
工作上	at work
生活上	in daily life
经济上	economically
思想上	in thinking
技术上	technically
语言上	in terms of language

Quick rule

在 + Noun + 上

→ on (location) → in terms of / regarding / in the area of

上 does not always mean “on”. It often means “in terms of”, “regarding”, or “with respect to”.