Traditional: 陞
shēng HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我买了一升牛奶。
Wǒ mǎi le yī shēng niúnǎi.
I bought one litre of milk.
他升职了。
Tā shēngzhí le.
He got promoted.
温度升得很快。
Wēndù shēng de hěn kuài.
The temperature is rising quickly.
汽油升价了。
Qìyóu shēng jià le.
Gasoline prices have risen.
太阳升起来了。
Tàiyáng shēng qǐlái le.
The sun is rising.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine a hot air balloon or a balloon (like in the example) rising (升) into the sky—the upward motion helps recall the meaning. The character 升 looks like a simplified drawing of something ascending, with a horizontal line at the bottom and an upward stroke.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts. Common in describing physical rises (e.g., balloons, sun), promotions (e.g., in a job), increases (e.g., temperature, prices), and improvements in rank or level.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a single verb (气球升了) or in verb-complement structures like 升到 (rise to, e.g., 升到空中) or 升起来 (rise up). Can be part of compound verbs (e.g., 上升, 提升).

🏯 Cultural Notes

Associated with positive progress, such as in 升职 (promotion) or 升学 (advancing to a higher school), reflecting cultural values of upward mobility. 升旗 (raising a flag) is a common patriotic ritual, especially for the national flag.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 上 (shàng, 'to go up/on'), 升 emphasizes a smoother, often continuous upward movement or elevation, while 上 can be more general (e.g., getting on a bus). Compared to 涨 (zhǎng, 'to rise' for water levels, prices), 升 is broader and can include abstract rises like status.

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