---
title: "Shangyou Meaning: 上游 (shàngyóu) Means “upper reaches”"
description: "上游 (shàngyóu) means “upper reaches (of a river)”. Hear its tones, see what 上 and 游 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shangyou"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 上游 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

上游 shàngyóu

## upper reaches (of a river)

## It can also mean

- upstream (of an industry)
- advanced position

## Its characters

1. 上 shàng (used after a verb) up
2. 游 yóu to travel

## In a sentence

这条河的上游水很清。 The water in the upper reaches of this river is very clear.

[More about 上游](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8A%E6%B8%B8)

## More words with 上 or 游

- [出游 chūyóu](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuyou)
- [导游 dǎoyóu](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daoyou)
- [赶上 gǎnshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ganshang)
- [皇上 huángshang](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/huangshang)
- [加上 jiāshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiashang)
- [基本上 jīběnshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jibenshang)
- [看不上 kànbushàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kanbushang)
- [看得上 kàndeshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kandeshang)
- [路上 lùshang](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/lushang)
- [旅游 lǚyóu](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/luyou)

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