Where does “うえ” come from?
うえ (Old Japanese) comes from Proto-Japonic upay, from Sanskrit उपाय, from Sanskrit उप-, from Proto-Indo-Aryan upa-, from Proto-Indo-Iranian upa-, from Proto-Indo-European upo — under, up from under; up from under, over; up,...
Ancestry of “うえ”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Japonic | upay | above, over |
| 2 | Sanskrit | उपाय | . |
| 3 | Sanskrit | उप- | towards; near, with; under, below |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | upa- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | upa- | towards |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | upo | under, up from under; up from under, over; up,... |