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至上 (zhì shàng) — supreme; highest; most revered; coming first; being paramount

Definition

至上 marks a value, principle, or goal as the highest of its kind — stronger and more absolute than 最高 ('tallest/highest in rank'), and used for abstract ideals rather than physical height.

adjective
supremehighestmost reveredcoming firstbeing paramount

Examples

  • ，至上。
    Zài gōng sī lǐ, kè hù de lì yì zhì shàng.
    In the company, the client's interests come first.
  • 至上。
    Ān quán zhì shàng shì wǒ men de zuì gāo yuán zé.
    Safety first is our highest principle.
  • 至上，。
    Tā rèn wéi yì shù zhì shàng, jīn qián bìng bú zhòng yào.
    He believes art is supreme, and money is not important.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

至zhìutmost
上shàngabove

“至” means utmost and “上” means above; together they express the highest or most important place.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →
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