上游
shàngyóu · HSK 7
upper reaches of river
🏞️ 上 = up + 游 = flow/stream; the up-flow part of a river, hence the lead position
上 means up/upper and 游 means to flow or swim, as in a current. Together: the upper part where water flows from, the source end of a river. By extension it marks an advanced or leading position ahead of the rest.
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.
游 — water radical 氵 + 斿 (banner/streamer)
游 combines the water radical 氵 with 斿, which depicts a banner streaming in the wind. The original sense was a flag fluttering or floating, extended to drifting on water, swimming, and wandering. Today it commonly means to swim, travel, or roam.