上次
shàng cì · HSK 1
last time
⏮️ 上 (shàng, previous/above) + 次 (cì, time/occurrence) = last time
上 means previous or above and 次 counts occurrences or instances, so together they literally mean the previous occurrence — i.e. last time. Contrast with 下次 (xià cì), next time.
上 — horizontal line above a baseline
上 is an indicative character (指事): a short stroke placed above a longer reference line shows the concept of 'above' or 'up'. The earliest oracle-bone forms used two horizontal lines for this; the modern shape added a vertical stroke for clarity. The core meaning of 'upper, above, to ascend' has stayed stable for millennia.
次 — 冫 ice + 欠 yawn/lack
Originally depicted a person (欠) sighing or hesitating, with 二 (later written 冫) marking repetition or a secondary position. The core sense developed from 'second in order' or 'next' into related meanings like 'sequence,' 'time/occurrence,' and 'inferior quality.'