Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 9/24

上(うえ)は

Once, Since, Now that, As long as

Formal! Rarely used in modern Japanese (old-fashioned)
Use からには and 以上は instead.

Structure

Verb［る］ + 上(うえ)は
Verb［た］ + 上(うえ)は

Details

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    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About 上は

A fairly old-fashioned phrase, 上(うえ)は highlights that something is being done or considered as a result of (A). It may be interpreted as 'once (A), (B)', 'since (A), (B)', 'now that (A), (B)', or 'as long as (A), (B)'. In these meanings, (B) will always be something that is deemed as either obvious or necessary.
上(うえ) in this phrase is a noun, and will be attached to the adverbial particle は. This creates a literal meaning that is similar to 'over and above (A), (B)'. This 'over and above' has a similar nuance to 'with that said', or 'all things considered' in English, and just presents (A) as something that is finalized.
This structure follows verbs in the standard form.
  • 一人(ひとり)暮(ぐ)らしを始(はじ)めた上(うえ)は、家事(かじ)など料理(りょうり)は自分(じぶん)で全部(ぜんぶ)やらなくてはいけない。
    Now that I have started living alone, I must do all the housework and cooking on my own.
  • アイルランドに住(す)むと決(き)めた上(うえ)は、アイルランドの文化(ぶんか)などを勉強(べんきょう)しなければならない。
    Now that I have decided to live in Ireland, I must study things such as Irish culture.
  • この会社(かいしゃ)の従業員(じゅうぎょういん)として働(はたら)く上(うえ)はきちんと我(わ)が社(しゃ)のルールを守(まも)ってもらわないと困(こま)ります。
    As long as you are working as an employee of this company, we need you to follow our rules.
Due to 上(うえ)は being quite old-fashioned, expressions like からには or 以上(いじょう)は will be heard more frequently in modern-day Japanese, and will carry a similar meaning.
  • ワンちゃんを保護(ほご)すると決(き)めたからには、最後(さいご)まで責任(せきにん)をもって育(そだ)てなくてはいけない。
    Now that you have decided to adopt a puppy, you must take responsibility and raise it until the end.
  • 十分(じゅうぶん)な証拠(しょうこ)がない以上(いじょう)は、彼(かれ)を逮捕(たいほ)することができません。
    Since we don't have sufficient evidence, we can't arrest him.

Examples

  • 日本(にほん)に来(き)た上(うえ)は勉強(べんきょう)するつもりです。

    Now that I have come to Japan, I intend to study.

  • 子供(こども)が犬(いぬ)を飼(か)う上(うえ)は、責任(せきにん)感(かん)を持(も)たせて成長(せいちょう)させなければならない。

    Now that the child is raising a dog, they must take responsibility and mature.

  • 血圧(けつあつ)が上(あ)がり、肝機能(かんきのう)も低下(ていか)した上(うえ)は、なんらかの病気(びょうき)があるはずだ。

    Since my blood pressure and liver functionality has gotten worse, I must have some sort of illness.

  • 政治家(せいじか)の山本(やまもと)さんは選挙(せんきょ)に勝(か)つための約束(やくそく)を結(むす)ぶ上(うえ)は守(まも)るべきだ。しかし、実際(じっさい)には必(かなら)ずしもそうとは限(かぎ)らない。

    Now that the politician, Yamamoto-san, made a promise in order to win elections, he should keep it. But in reality, it is not always the case.

  • 何(なに)かをし始(はじ)める上(うえ)は正(ただ)しくやらなければならない。

    Once you start doing something, you have to do it properly.

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