升
to ascend; to rise; to promote; to elevate; liter; unit of dry measure for grain (= one liter or one-tenth dou 斗[dou3]); to ascend; to rise (variant of 升[sheng1]); to promote; to elevate (variant of 升[sheng1])
Closest English meanings
rise·ascend·liter·climb
The Calligrapher — Huáng Tíngjiān 黄庭坚
Song master of elongated, radical running and cursive script.
Song calligrapher (1045–1105), master of running script/cursive script — Song master of long, sweeping, deliberately stretched running strokes. Song dynasty
Cultural Story
Hexagram 46 of the Yijing is named 升 — “the tree rises from the earth,” and the sage “积小以高大,” building the great from the small. 升 was also the measure, a dou of grain; 升旗 the flag a garrison ran up at dawn. The word is growth and the cup that holds it.
Common words & phrases
- 上升 rise · go up · ascend
- 升旗 raise a flag · hoist the flag
- 升级 upgrade · promote · level up
- 升学 enter a higher school · advance
- 提升 promote · raise · elevate
Read the story behind the character
A student 升学 to senior high; 上升 is the line a fever chart draws. 升旗 opens the school week, and 升级 the phone a teen begs for. 提升 is the title a review grants, and 升 the level a game ticks with a chime. The word moves from the grain scoop to the promotion.
Own this character
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