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JLPT N3Time Expressions

～上(で)— After Doing / In the Process Of

Has two related uses. With a past verb or noun+の, it means 'after ~; upon ~' — doing one thing first and then acting on that basis. With a dictionary verb or noun+の, it means 'in the process of ~; when it comes to ~'. It links a preparatory step to a subsequent, deliberate action.

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Pro lessonUNIT 6 · TIME EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb past-plain] + 上で (after) / [Verb dictionary form・Noun + の] + 上で (in doing)

Examples · 例文

  • よく考えた上で、返事します。

    Yoku kangaeta ue de, henji shimasu.

    I'll give you my answer after thinking it over carefully.

    考えた (past) + 上で = 'after thinking'; the answer follows the deliberate first step.

  • 契約内容を確認した上でサインしてください。

    Keiyaku naiyou o kakunin shita ue de sain shite kudasai.

    Please sign after confirming the contract details.

    確認した + 上で shows sign only after completing the prior verification step.

  • 日本語を学ぶ上で、漢字は避けられない。

    Nihongo o manabu ue de, kanji wa sakerarenai.

    In the process of learning Japanese, kanji are unavoidable.

    Dictionary 学ぶ + 上で = 'when it comes to / in doing'; states a condition inherent to the activity.

Usage notes · 注意

  • Past verb + 上で = 'after doing' (a deliberate two-step sequence).
  • Dictionary verb / noun + の + 上で = 'in the process of / for the purpose of'.
  • Register: formal; frequent in instructions and procedures.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～上(で) is tested against.

vsてから

てから is a simple, neutral 'after ~ then'; ～上で implies the first step is deliberate and forms the basis for a considered next action.

vs上(に)

上(に) means 'in addition to' (adding items); 上(で) is about sequence/process ('after' or 'in doing'). Different meanings despite similar spelling.

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