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 — Lǐ Sī 李斯
Qin chancellor who standardized the small-seal script for China's first empire.
Qin calligrapher (约前284–前208), master of small seal script — Qin chancellor who standardized the small-seal script for the first empire. Qin 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
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Lǐ Sī 李斯, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.