JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 3

～上で (after)

After completing one step, do the next

You’ll be able to present a completed action as preparation or a requirement for what follows.

Illustration of the scene described by After discussing it with my family, I decided on our travel schedule.
Read it first

家族かぞくと相談そうだんした上うえで、旅行りょこうの予定よていを決きめました。

kazoku to soudan shita ue de, ryokou no yotei o kimemashita.

What do you think this sentence means?

After discussing it with my family, I decided on our travel schedule.

Why it means that

After taking an important step

～上うえで means “after doing” when the first action is an important preparation, consideration, or basis for the next action. It is more deliberate and formal than simply using ～てから.

Examples

よく調しらべた上うえで、新あたらしいパソコンを買かいました。

yoku shirabeta ue de, atarashii pasokon o kaimashita.

I bought a new computer after researching it carefully.

説明せつめいを読よんだ上うえで、サインしてください。

setsumei o yonda ue de, sain shite kudasai.

Please sign after reading the explanation.

How it is built

Complete the preparation first

Use a past plain verb + 上うえで, or an action noun + の上うえで, as in 相談そうだんの上うえで. The main clause follows after the preparation has been completed. With other nouns, の上うえで can mean “in terms of,” and with the dictionary form, ～上うえで means “in doing,” not “after.”

Verb past plain form / Action noun の+上で+next action
Example

内容ないようを確認かくにんした上うえで、申もうし込こんでください。

naiyou o kakunin shita ue de, moushikonde kudasai.

Please apply after confirming the details.

Compare

～てから vs ～た上で

Both put one action after another. ～てから only gives the order; ～た上うえで presents the first action as the careful groundwork the second one is based on.

  • ～てから, after

    値段ねだんを比くらべてから、買かいます。

    nedan o kurabete kara, kaimasu.

    I will buy it after comparing prices.

    A plain sequence: compare, then buy.

  • ～た上で, after (and based on)

    値段ねだんを比くらべた上うえで、買かいます。

    nedan o kurabeta ue de, kaimasu.

    I will buy it once I have compared prices.

    The purchase is decided on the basis of the comparison.

Examples

医者いしゃとよく相談そうだんした上うえで、手術しゅじゅつを受うけることにしました。

isha to yoku soudan shita ue de, shujutsu o ukeru koto ni shimashita.

After talking it over carefully with my doctor, I decided to have the operation.

何社なんしゃかの料金りょうきんを比くらべた上うえで、一番いちばん安やすい保険ほけんに入はいりました。

nansha ka no ryoukin o kurabeta ue de, ichiban yasui hoken ni hairimashita.

After comparing the prices of several companies, I signed up for the cheapest insurance.

担当者たんとうしゃと相談そうだんの上うえで、日程にっていを決きめさせていただきます。

tantousha to soudan no ue de, nittei o kimesasete itadakimasu.

We will set the schedule after consulting with the person in charge.

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