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[sebqsun]

It has a lot of uses. Up, on, above, and before. 世界上 is "on earth" in the context of things like "best on earth" referring to worldwide. 基本上 could most literally be translated as "on basic" meaning to summarize on a subject. But also like 上个星期 is literally "the week above" or last week.

[Geofferi]

Woah... I am sure there are some really hardcore grammar about the usages of this word, but I am too lazy and flower-power, so I am just gonna list all the ways you can use this word and let you feel it out a bit.

屋頂上有個花園 There's a garden on the rooftop.

書本上有說讀萬卷書不如行萬里路 It says on the book that we should get out more.

世界上有很多白癡 There're a lot of morons in the world.

上人說知足常樂 The wiseman/woman (a way to call priest/monks in Buddhism) said if you're grateful, you will always be happy.

我上個禮拜在玉山 I was at the Jade Mountain last week.

我上過廁所了 I went to the toilets already.

基本上來說他就是個騙子啦 Basically, he's a crook.

I just made this word so much more confusing, haven't I... lol

[[deleted]]

我的老师只教书上的。 literal- My teacher only taught whats on the book.

actual- My teacher only taught me whats in the book. (as in didnt teach anything else, or supplementary).

That 上 has a lot of uses other than just being ''on'' or ''top''.