Usage note
上面用来指物体的上方或位置。
shàng miàn yòng lái zhǐ wù tǐ de shàng fāng huò lì chéng.
上面 is used to indicate the top or position of an object.
Context note
上面常用于描述物体的位置关系，比如书本的封面在上面。
shàng miàn cháng yòng yú míng sù wù tǐ de lì chéng guān xīn, bǐ rú shū běn de fēi miàn zài shàng miàn.
上面 is often used to describe the positional relationship of objects, for example, the cover of a book is above.
5 examples
书本的封面在上面。
shū běn de fēng miàn zài shàng miàn。
The cover of the book is on top.
窗户在桌子上面。
chuāng hù zài zhuō zi shàng miàn。
The window is above the table.
床铺上面有地毯。
chuáng pù shàng miàn yǒu dì tǎn。
There is a carpet on the bedspread.
地图上的中国在上面。
dì tú shàng de zhōng guó zài shàng miàn。
China is above on the map.
书架最上面一层放着新书。
shū jià zuì shàng miàn yì céng fàng zhe xīn shū。
The newest books are placed on the topmost shelf of the bookshelf.
5 mini stories
小明的房间，窗户在桌子上面。
xiǎo míng de fáng jiān， chuāng hù zài zhuō zi shàng miàn。
In Xiao Ming's room, the window is above the table.
妈妈把新买的书放在床铺上面。
mā ma bǎ xīn mǎi de shū fàng zài chuáng pù shàng miàn。
Mom put the newly bought book on the bedspread.
地图上的中国在上面，美国在下面。
dì tú shàng de zhōng guó zài shàng miàn， měi guó zài xià miàn。
On the map, China is above and America is below.
书架最上面一层放着新书，小红最喜欢看。
shū jià zuì shàng miàn yì céng fàng zhe xīn shū， xiǎo hóng zuì xǐ huan kàn。
The topmost shelf of the bookshelf has new books that Little Hong likes to read.
窗户在桌子上上面，但桌子下面有地板。
chuāng hù zài zhuō zi shàng shàng miàn， dàn zhuō zi xià miàn yǒu dì bǎn。
The window is above the table, but there is a floor below the table.
Mini dialogue
找东西
A
我的书包在哪里？
Wǒ de shūbāo zài nǎlǐ?
Where is my backpack?
B
在桌子上面，你看到了吗？
Zài zhuōzi shàngmiàn, nǐ kàndào le ma?
On top of the table, do you see it?
放玩具
A
把书放在书架上面。
Bǎ shū fàng zài shūjià shàngmiàn.
Put the book on top of the bookshelf.
B
好的，上面还有地方吗？
Hǎo de, shàngmiàn hái yǒu dìfāng ma?
Okay, is there still space on top?
Related words and contrasts
opposite
下面
xià miàn
below; under
The opposite position.
similar
上边
shàng bian
on top; above
A very similar word, often used in spoken Chinese.