The Meaning of ijou [以上] In Japanese

以上
いじょう
Romaji: ijou N3

What does 以上 mean?

Translation and Meaning

above, over, more than, the above, that’s all

Definition

What does 以上 (ijou) mean? It means “not less than” or “at least” — a marker that sets a minimum threshold or boundary so that the stated value and anything greater/above it are included; it is commonly used to indicate a lower limit in amounts, dates, ranks, and categories.

Type

suffix / noun / conjunctive expression (接尾語・名詞・接続表現)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • The above / the aforementioned information referred to earlier in a text or list.
  • A closing or summarizing cue meaning “that is all” used at the end of announcements or reports.
  • In logical or mathematical contexts, used to present a conclusion or to signal the end of an argument.

Composition

  • 以 (i) — by means of, from, due to; indicates starting point.
  • 上 (jou) — up, above; indicates higher position or limit.
  • Combined, 以上 (ijou) expresses the idea of “from this point upward” or “the above/greater-than-or-equal-to range.”

Usage

Used across formal writing, business documents, broadcasts, and everyday speech with different functions depending on grammar: it attaches to numerals or nouns to mark a minimum bound, appears in official statements and notices to close a topic, and combines with verbs in constructions like “Vする以上 (V-suru ijou)” to mean “since/now that/as long as”; register ranges from neutral to formal depending on position and particles used after it.
💡 Tips
Remember “i-jo(u) = I jump OVER” — picture a point (start) and jumping upward: 以上 marks everything from that point up (or “or more”).

Variations

  • 以下 (ika) — less than or equal to; antonym.
  • 未満 (miman) — less than; antonym.
  • 超える (koeru) — to exceed; similar sense of being over a threshold.
  • 上 (ue) — above; colloquial/shorter alternative in some contexts.
以上