以上

And Above

Level 3Sounds Like ji5 soeng6

Use 以上 (ji5 soeng6) after a number, age, or quantity to mean 'X or more'. It is inclusive, meaning it includes the number itself.

How It Works

1. Basic Usage
以上 (ji5 soeng6) is a postposition, meaning it always follows the quantity it modifies. It is used to set a minimum threshold.

2. Inclusivity and 或以上
In Cantonese, 以上 is normally inclusive. If a sign says '18歲以上' (sap6 baat3 seoi3 ji5 soeng6), an 18-year-old is allowed. To be even more explicit, speakers often use 或以上 (waak6 ji5 soeng6), literally 'or above', to remove any doubt that the number itself is included. If you want to say 'strictly more than 18' (starting from 19), you would use 多過 (do1 gwo3).

3. Using with Nouns
When the phrase modifies a noun (e.g., 'students aged 10 and above'), you must use the linking particle 嘅 (ge3):

  • [Quantity] + 以上 + 嘅 + [Noun]
  • Example: 五十蚊以上嘅嘢食 (ng5 sap6 man1 ji5 soeng6 ge3 je5 sik6) - Food costing $50 or more

4. Abstract Scales
Beyond numbers, it can refer to levels or standards, such as 'average and above' (平均以上 ping4 gwan1 ji5 soeng6).

5. Textual Reference
In more formal contexts, it can mean 'the above-mentioned' when referring to points previously stated in a document or speech.

Examples (4)

  1. 十八歲以上嘅人士先可以入去。

    Only people aged 18 and above can enter.

    Word by Word: 18 years-old and-above possessive people only-then can enter go-in.

    Here, 以上 (ji5 soeng6) follows the age. The use of 嘅 (ge3) links the age requirement to the noun 'people'. (sap6 baat3 seoi3 ji5 soeng6 ge3 jan4 si6 sin1 ho2 ji5 jap6 heoi3)

  2. 呢度嘅消費通常係每人兩百蚊以上。

    The spending here is usually $200 or more per person.

    Word by Word: Here possessive spending usually is every person two hundred dollars and-above.

    以上 (ji5 soeng6) is used here to describe a price range starting from $200. (nei1 dou6 ge3 siu1 fai3 tung1 soeng4 hai6 mui5 jan4 loeng5 baak3 man1 ji5 soeng6)

  3. 如果你有五個以上嘅錯誤，就要重考。

    If you have five or more errors, you have to retake the test.

    Word by Word: If you have five [classifier] and-above possessive errors, then must re-test.

    This demonstrates the [Number + Classifier + 以上] pattern. (jyu4 gwo2 nei5 jau5 ng5 go3 ji5 soeng6 ge3 co3 m6, zau6 jiu3 cung4 haau2)

  4. 我想要三件以上。

    I want three pieces or more.

    Word by Word: I want three [classifier] and-above.

    In this sentence, 以上 (ji5 soeng6) is used at the end of the phrase to specify a minimum quantity desired. (ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 saam1 gin6 ji5 soeng6)

Common Mistakes

  • Using 以上 for physical location (e.g., 'the cat is above the table').

    隻貓喺張枱以上。
    隻貓喺張枱上面。

    以上 (ji5 soeng6) is for abstract scales and quantities. For physical location 'above' or 'on top of', use 上面 (soeng6 min6).

  • Thinking 以上 (ji5 soeng6) leaves out the number itself.

    三個人以上，即係最少四個人。
    三個人以上，即係最少三個人。

    三個人以上 includes the third person: three or more. If you mean strictly more than three (at least four), say 多過 (do1 gwo3) 三個人.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

以上Level 3And Above

Learn This First

To use 以上 (and above), learners need to be able to state a baseline quantity using numbers and units, and understand how to link this descriptive phrase to a noun using the particle 嘅.

Words in This Pattern

以上