以上
yǐshàng · HSK 2
the above/foregoing/above-mentioned
⬆️ 以上 = yǐ (by means of) + shàng (above) — 'and above'
以 marks a reference point, 上 means above or upward. Together they mean 'the above-mentioned' or 'and higher', as in '十岁以上' (ten years and above). Common in formal lists and thresholds.
以 — phonetic 㠯 (plow/tool) + 人 (person)
Originally a pictograph of a hand-held plow or tool (㠯), later combined with 人 (person) to suggest 'using' something. The core meaning 'to use' extended metaphorically to 'by means of', 'with', and 'because of'. In modern Chinese it functions mainly as a grammatical particle.
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.