Word: 上 (shàng) on; on; in; at (marking a time, scope, place or respect)

箭搭在弦上，他拉开了弓。

Jiàn dā zài xián shàng, tā lākāile gōng.

With the arrow set on the string, he drew the bow.

粪堆上开花儿,臭美

fènduī shàng kāihuār,chòuměi

flowers blooming on a dung heap: stinking beautiful

红纸上写着恭贺新禧四个字。

Hóng zhǐ shàng xiězhe gōnghèxīnxǐ sì gè zì.

The red paper has the four characters for Happy New Year written on it.

红色的字挂在墙上，特别显。

Hóngsè de zì guà zài qiáng shàng, tèbié xiǎn.

The red characters hanging on the wall really stand out.

纸上画的饼，看得吃不得

zhǐ shang huà de bǐng, kàn de chībùdé

a cake drawn on paper: you can look at it but not eat it

线板上的针,别着

xiànbǎn shàng de zhēn,bié zhe

a needle on the thread board: pinned in place

经理在新闻发布会上道歉。

Jīnglǐ zài xīnwénfābùhuì shàng dàoqiàn.

The manager apologized at the press conference.

网站上有这家公司的简介。

Wǎngzhàn shàng yǒu zhè jiā gōngsī de jiǎnjiè.

There is a brief introduction to this company on the website.

羊羔拴在狼尾巴上,吃不了也得拖死

yánggāo shuān zài láng wěiba shang,chī bù liǎo yě děi tuō sǐ

a lamb tied to a wolf's tail: even if not eaten, it will be dragged to death

羊群在山坡上慢慢地吃草。

Yángqún zài shānpō shàng mànmàn de chī cǎo.

The flock of sheep is slowly grazing on the hillside.

美国的司法制度是世界上最好的。

Měiguó de sīfǎ zhìdù shì shìjiè shàng zuìhǎo de.

The legal system in America is the world's finest.

老猫房上睡,一辈传一辈

lǎo māo fáng shang shuì,yíbèi chuán yíbèi

an old cat sleeps on the roof: passed down generation to generation

老粪坑底子上挖出来的琉璃瓦,几百年前的老古董

lǎo fènkēng dǐzi shàng wā chūlái de liúliwǎ,jǐ bǎinián qián de lǎogǔdǒng

Glazed tiles dug up from the bottom of an old cesspit: antiques from several hundred years ago

老虎屁股上抓痒痒,大事不成,还惹祸害

lǎohǔ pìgu shàng zhuā yǎngyang,dàshì bùchéng,hái rě huòhài

scratching an itch on a tiger's backside: nothing great is achieved and trouble is stirred up

老鼠到猫背上拉屎,活找死

lǎoshǔ dào māo bèi shang lāshǐ,huó zhǎosǐ

a mouse defecating on a cat's back: looking for death

老鼠尾巴上害疖子,出脓也不多

lǎoshǔwěiba shàng hài jiēzi,chū nóng yě bù duō

a boil on a mouse's tail: not much pus either

老鼠尾巴上绑鸡毛,不是什么正经鸟儿

lǎoshǔwěiba shàng bǎng jīmáo,bú shì shénme zhèngjīng niǎor

tying chicken feathers to a mouse's tail: still no decent bird

老鼠骑在牛背上,大的没有小的能

lǎoshǔ qí zài niú bèi shang,dà de méiyǒu xiǎo de néng

a mouse riding on an ox's back: the big one isn't as capable as the small

聚会上我和他谈得很愉快。

Jùhuì shàng wǒ hé tā tán de hěn yúkuài.

I enjoyed talking with him at the party.

肉案上的买卖,斤斤计较

ròu'àn shàng de mǎimai,jīnjīnjìjiào

business at the butcher's block: counting every jin

胆汁拌黄连，苦上加苦

dǎnzhī bàn huánglián, kǔ shàng jiā kǔ

bile mixed with goldthread root: bitter on top of bitter

胆汁滴在眉毛上，眼前苦

dǎnzhī dī zài méimao shàng, yǎnqián kǔ

bile dripped on the eyebrow: bitter right before the eyes

胡子上生疮，毛病

húzi shang shēng chuāng, máobìng

a sore growing on the beard: a hair problem

胸口上放鞭炮，心里响着

xiōngkǒu shàng fàngbiānpào, xīnli xiǎng zhe

setting off firecrackers on your chest: it rings in your heart

能在杯子上雕刻几个字吗？

Néng zài bēizi shàng diāokè jǐ ge zì ma?

Can you engrave a few words on this cup?

脑门上贴邮票，邮不得人

nǎomén shàng tiē yóupiào, yóu bùdé rén

sticking a stamp on one's forehead: can't be posted (can't be up to a person)

脑门上长瘤子，额外负担

nǎomén shang zhǎng liúzi, éwài fùdān

a tumour growing on the forehead: an extra burden

脖子上磨刀，危险到顶

bózi shang módāo, wēixiǎn dàodǐng

sharpening a knife on one's neck: danger reaches the top

脚上的泡，自己走的

jiǎo shàng de pào, zìjǐ zǒu de

blisters on your feet: you walked them yourself

脚上的泡自己走的，身上的疮自己惹的

jiǎo shàng de pào zìjǐ zǒu de, shēnshang de chuāng zìjǐ rě de

the blisters on your feet you walked yourself; the sores on your body you brought on yourself

脚上绑铃铛，走到哪里就响到哪里

jiǎo shàng bǎng língdang, zǒu dào nǎlǐ jiù xiǎng dào nǎlǐ

bells tied to the feet: it rings wherever you go

脚背上长眼睛，自看自高

jiǎobèi shang zhǎng yǎnjing, zì kàn zì gāo

eyes growing on the top of the foot: sees itself as high

膝盖上钉掌,离蹄太远

xīgài shàng dīng zhǎng,lí tí tài yuǎn

nailing a horseshoe on the knee: too far from the hoof

舌上有龙泉，杀人不见血

shé shang yǒu Lóngquán, shārénbújiànxiě

there is a Longquan sword on the tongue, killing without blood

舌头上抹蜜，说甜话

shétou shàng mǒ mì, shuō tián huà

smearing honey on the tongue: speaking sweet words

舌头上磨剃刀，好险

shétou shàng mó tìdāo, hǎoxiǎn

sharpening a razor on your tongue: how dangerous

舞台上的她，风采照人。

Wǔtái shàng de tā, fēngcǎi zhào rén.

On stage, she is radiant and graceful.

舞台上的灯光非常耀眼。

Wǔtái shàng de dēngguāng fēicháng yàoyǎn.

The lights on the stage are extremely dazzling.

舞台上的灯突然亮了。

Wǔtái shàng de dēng tūrán liàngle.

The lights on the stage suddenly came on.

船上的淡水够喝几天？

Chuán shàng de dànshuǐ gòu hē jǐtiān?

How many days will the freshwater on the boat last?

船上的燃料还够用吗？

Chuán shàng de ránliào hái gòuyòng ma?

Is there still enough fuel on the ship?

船头上跑马,走投无路

chuántóu shang pǎomǎ,zǒutóuwúlù

riding a horse on the bow of a boat: nowhere to go

船的力量在帆上,人的力量在心上

chuán de lìliang zài fān shang,rén de lìliang zài xīnshàng

a boat's strength is in its sail, a person's strength is in the heart

节日晚上，广场上放起了烟火。

Jiérì wǎnshang, guǎngchǎng shàng fàng qǐle yānhuo.

On the holiday evening, fireworks were set off in the square.

芝麻掉到针尖儿上，难得

zhīma diào dào zhēn jiānr shàng, nándé

a sesame seed lands on a needle point: hard to come by

花瓣浮在水面上。

Huābàn fú zài shuǐmiàn shàng.

The petals are floating on the water.

花绸子上绣牡丹，锦上添花

huā chóuzi shàng xiù mǔdan, jǐnshàngtiānhuā

embroidering peonies on flowered silk: adding flowers to brocade

苍蝇能在天花板上走。

Cāngying néng zài tiānhuābǎn shàng zǒu.

A fly can walk on the ceiling.

苍蝇落在鸡蛋上，见缝下蛆

cāngying luò zài jīdàn shang, jiàn fèng xià qū

A fly lands on an egg: lays maggots wherever there's a crack

苍蝇飞到驴胯上，抱住了粗腿

cāngying fēi dào lǘ kuà shang, bào zhùle cūtuǐ

A fly lands on a donkey's haunch: it's clinging to a thick leg

苹果从树上坠落下来。

Píngguǒ cóng shù shàng zhuìluò xiàlai.

The apple fell from the tree.

苹果在书上。

Píngguǒ zài shū shàng.

The apple is on top of the book.

苹果树上挂着美丽的花朵。

Píngguǒ shù shàng guàzhe měilì de huāduǒ.

The apple tree has a beautiful blossom.

苹果长在树上。

Píngguǒ zhǎng zài shù shàng.

Apples grow on trees.

草上的露水，留不久

cǎo shàng de lùshuǐ, liú bùjiǔ

Dew on the grass: doesn't last long

草原上有一个蒙古包。

Cǎoyuán shàng yǒu yí gè měnggǔbāo.

There is a yurt on the grassland.

草原上的牧民每天骑马放羊。

Cǎoyuán shàng de mùmín měitiān qímǎ fàngyáng.

The herdsmen on the grassland ride horses and herd sheep every day.

草原上的牧民靠畜牧生活。

Cǎoyuán shàng de mùmín kào xùmù shēnghuó.

The herders on the grassland live by raising livestock.

草地上有三匹马在吃草。

Cǎodì shàng yǒu sān pǐ mǎ zài chī cǎo.

There are three horses grazing on the grass.

草地上有很多牛在吃草。

Cǎodì shàng yǒu hěn duō niú zài chī cǎo.

There are a lot of cows eating grass in the field.

草地上，羊成群结队地低头吃草。

Cǎodì shàng, yáng chéngqúnjiéduì de dītóu chī cǎo.

On the grassland, sheep graze in big flocks with their heads down.

草尖儿上的露水，留不住

cǎo jiānr shàng de lùshuǐ, liú búzhù

Dew on a blade of grass: can't be kept

荣华是草上露,富贵是瓦上霜

rónghuá shì cǎo shang lù,fùguì shì wǎshàngshuāng

glory is dew on the grass, wealth is frost on the roof tiles

药的用法写在说明书上。

Yào de yòngfǎ xiě zài shuōmíngshū shàng.

The directions for using the medicine are in the instructions.

荷叶上的水珠，滚来滚去

héyè shàng de shuǐzhū, gǔn lái gǔn qù

water droplets on a lotus leaf: rolling this way and that

萝卜上扎刀，不是出血的筒子

luóbo shàng zhā dāo, bú shì chūxiě de tǒngzi

A knife stuck in a radish: not one to bleed

蒙古族人喜欢在草原上骑马。

Měnggǔzú rén xǐhuan zài cǎoyuán shàng qímǎ.

Mongol people like riding horses on the grassland.

蓝天上点缀着几朵白云。

Lántiān shàng diǎnzhuìzhe jǐ duǒ báiyún.

A few white clouds were scattered across the blue sky.

虎嘴上拔毛，危险

hǔ zuǐ shang bámáo, wēixiǎn

plucking hair from a tiger's mouth: dangerous

虎头上捉虱子，自己找死

hǔtóu shang zhuō shīzi, zìjǐ zhǎosǐ

catching lice on a tiger's head: asking for death

虽然我没在火车上睡觉。

Suīrán wǒ méi zài huǒchē shàng shuìjiào.

Although I haven't slept on the train.

蚂蚁尿到书本上，湿不了几个字

mǎyǐ niào dào shūběn shàng, shī bù liǎo jǐ ge zì

an ant pees on a book: it can't wet many characters

蛇头上的苍蝇，自来的衣食

shétóu shàng de cāngying, zìlái de yīshí

a fly on a snake's head: food and clothing that came by itself

蛤蟆、蟋蟀，都是一锹土上人

háma, xīshuài, dōu shì yì qiāo tǔ shang rén

toad and cricket: both come from the same spade of earth

蜜糖抹在鼻尖儿上，嘴馋舔不到

mìtáng mǒ zài bí jiānr shàng, zuǐchán tiǎn búdào

honey smeared on the tip of the nose: greedy mouth can't lick it

行程单上写了几点出发？

Xíngchéngdān shàng xiěle jǐdiǎn chūfā?

What time does the itinerary say we leave?

表上要写姓名和国籍。

Biǎo shàng yào xiě xìngmíng hé guójí.

You need to write your name and nationality on the form.

表格上要写你的出生地。

Biǎogé shàng yào xiě nǐ de chūshēngdì.

You need to write your place of birth on the form.

表格上要填写祖籍吗？

Biǎogé shàng yào tiánxiě zǔjí ma?

Do I need to fill in my ancestral domicile on the form?

表格上要填电子邮箱吗？

Biǎogé shàng yào tián diànzǐyóuxiāng ma?

Do I need to fill in an email address on the form?

表格上请先写姓氏，再写名字。

Biǎogé shàng qǐng xiān xiě xìngshì, zài xiě míngzi.

On the form, please write your family name first, then your given name.

表格上还有两个事项你没有填。

Biǎogé shàng háiyǒu liǎng gè shìxiàng nǐ méiyǒu tián.

There are two items on the form that you haven't filled in.

裁判必须站在中立的立场上。

Cáipàn bìxū zhàn zài zhōnglì de lìchǎng shàng.

A referee must take a neutral stance.

要是脸书上没有你，你就不存在！

Yàoshi Liǎnshū shàng méiyǒu nǐ, nǐ jiù bù cúnzài!

If you're not on Facebook, you don't exist!

观众席上坐满了球迷。

Guānzhòngxí shàng zuò mǎnle qiúmí.

The stands were packed with fans.

观众席坐满了，连过道上都是人。

Guānzhòngxí zuò mǎnle, lián guò dào shàng dōu shì rén.

The stands were full, with people even in the aisles.

让我们继续进行议程上的项目。

Ràng wǒmen jìxù jìnxíng yìchéng shàng de xiàngmù.

Let's proceed with the items on the agenda.

证人在法庭上说出了真相。

Zhèngrén zài fǎtíng shàng shuōchūle zhēnxiàng.

The witness told the truth in court.

该游戏尚未移植到电脑上。

Gāi yóuxì shàngwèi yízhí dào diànnǎo shàng.

The game hasn't been ported to PC.

请不要在历史遗迹上乱画。

Qǐng búyào zài lìshǐyíjì shàng luànhuà.

Please don't scribble on historic sites.

请不要在墙壁上乱画。

Qǐng búyào zài qiángbì shàng luànhuà.

Please don't scribble on the walls.

请不要坐在我的办公桌上。

Qǐng búyào zuò zài wǒ de bàngōngzhuō shàng.

Please don't sit on my office desk.

请你在这本书上签名好吗？

Qǐng nǐ zài zhè běn shū shàng qiānmíng hǎo ma?

Could you please autograph this book?

请各位在自己的位子上就座。

Qǐng gèwèi zài zìjǐ de wèizi shàng jiùzuò.

Please take your seats, everyone.

请在合同上盖你的印章。

Qǐng zài hétong shàng gài nǐ de yìnzhāng.

Please put your seal on the contract.

请在手机上开启定位功能。

Qǐng zài shǒujī shàng kāiqǐ dìngwèi gōngnéng.

Please enable the location feature on your phone.

请在每件商品上清楚标价。

Qǐng zài měi jiàn shāngpǐn shàng qīngchu biāojià.

Please mark the price clearly on every item.

请在纸上画一个三角。

Qǐng zài zhǐ shàng huà yí gè sānjiǎo.

Please draw a triangle on the paper.

请在纸上画一个椭圆。

Qǐng zài zhǐ shàng huà yí gè tuǒyuán.

Please draw an ellipse on the paper.

请在终端上输入密码。

Qǐng zài zhōngduān shàng shūrù mìmǎ.

Please enter your password on the terminal.