上界

shàngjiè

noun

Meanings

1 upper bound (mathematics)
2 the upper realm / heaven (mythology)

Characters

boundary / realm

Examples

这个集合的上界是10。

Zhè ge jíhé de shàngjiè shì shí.

The upper bound of this set is 10.

传说中神仙住在上界。

Chuánshuō zhōng shénxiān zhù zài shàngjiè.

Legend has it that immortals dwell in the upper realm.

Tips

usage

Two unrelated senses: in math, 上界 = upper bound (paired with 下界 lower bound, 上确界 supremum). In Chinese mythology and xianxia novels, 上界 is the celestial realm of immortals — paired with 下界 (the mortal world). Context disambiguates instantly.

Stroke Order

上 shàng

界 jiè