V+上

Verb + Upward

Level 2Sounds Like soeng6

The pattern V + 上 (soeng5) indicates an action moving physically upward, onto a surface, or toward a destination. Combined with 嚟 (lei4) or 去 (heoi3), it forms compound directions meaning 'come up' or 'go up'.

How It Works

The structure V + 上 (soeng5) is used to express movement that goes upward or onto a surface. Its spatial opposite in Cantonese is 落 (lok6) (rather than Mandarin 下 haa6).

1. Simple Directional + Location Object
When specifying a destination or location directly, use Verb + 上 + Location:

  • 行上樓梯 (haang4 soeng5 lau4 tai1) = walk up the stairs
  • 跳上舞台 (tiu3 soeng5 mou5 toi4) = jump onto the stage

2. Compound Directionals and Location
To indicate directional orientation relative to the speaker, combine 上 (soeng5) with 嚟 (lei4) or 去 (heoi3):

  • Verb + 上嚟 (soeng5 lei4): Movement upward towards the speaker ('come up').
  • Verb + 上去 (soeng5 heoi3): Movement upward away from the speaker ('go up').

When a location object is included in a compound directional, follow the word order pattern Verb + 上 + Location + 嚟/去:

  • 搬上樓去 (bun1 soeng5 lau4 heoi3) = move up to the upper floor (away from speaker)
  • 爬上山嚟 (paa4 soeng5 saan1 lei4) = climb up the mountain (towards speaker)

3. Extended, Metaphorical, and Aspectual Usage
Beyond physical direction, 上 denotes physical attachment (e.g., 掛上 gwaa3 soeng5 'hang up onto', 貼上 tip3 soeng5 'stick onto') or psychological attachment (e.g., 愛上 oi3 soeng5 'fall in love with').

Additionally, 上 is embedded in the aspectual compound 起上嚟 (hei2 soeng5 lai4) to mark the sudden onset of an action or state (e.g., 喊起上嚟 haam3 hei2 soeng5 lai4 'burst into tears').

Cantonese vs. Mandarin Distinction:
In Mandarin, shàng (上) is often used as a resultative complement for goal attainment (考上) or closing/locking (關上, 鎖上). In spoken Cantonese these functions are more often handled by other words: V + 到 (dou2) for attainment (考到) and 埋 (maai4) or 住 (zyu6) for closing or locking (鎖住, 關埋). 關上 and 鎖上 are also used, especially in careful speech and writing.

Examples (4)

  1. 你等等，我即刻搬啲嘢上去。

    Wait a moment, I'll move these things upstairs right away.

    Word by Word: you wait-wait, I immediately move some things up-go

    Uses 搬 (bun1, to move) + 上去 (soeng5 heoi3) to indicate moving items upward away from the speaker.

  2. 佢好快就走上咗三樓。

    He quickly ran up to the third floor.

    Word by Word: he very fast then run up ASP third floor

    Demonstrates Verb + 上 + Location, followed by the aspect marker 咗 (zo2).

  3. 隻貓跳上咗張枱度。

    The cat jumped onto the table.

    Word by Word: CL cat jump up ASP CL table place

    Shows physical movement onto a higher surface (the table).

  4. 佢一路睇，一路愛上咗呢個地方。

    As she looked around, she fell in love with this place.

    Word by Word: she all-the-way look, all-the-way love up ASP this CL place

    Demonstrates the extended metaphorical meaning of psychological attachment using 愛上 (oi3 soeng5).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 嚟 (lei4) when you are moving away from where you stand to the listener, who is upstairs.

    Different Meaning我而家行上嚟你度。
    我而家行上去你度。

    我而家行上嚟你度 is natural when you take the listener's place as the viewpoint. When you speak from where you stand downstairs and move away from it toward the listener, use 上去 (soeng5 heoi3).

  • Placing a location noun directly after the compound directional 上去/上嚟.

    佢行上去樓梯。
    佢行上樓梯。 / 佢行上樓梯去。

    The location noun must come directly after 上 (soeng5). You cannot put a location after the full compound 上去 (soeng5 heoi3).

How It Connects

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

V+上Level 2Verb + Upward

Learn This First

To understand 'V+上', you need to be familiar with how Cantonese uses verbal particles to indicate direction. It is also important to understand how these directional markers combine with 'come' (嚟) and 'go' (去) to form complete directional phrases like 'walk up here' or 'move up there'.

Words in This Pattern