身(み)の上(うえ)

みのうえ
noun
one's circumstances; one's lot in life
1. one's circumstances; one's fate; one's personal history
Refers to a person's life situation, personal background, or the circumstances they find themselves in. Often carries a nuance of hardship or sympathy.
彼女(かのじょ)は自分(じぶん)の身(み)の上(うえ)を語(かた)った。
She told the story of her life.
身(み)の上(うえ)に何(なに)があったのか、誰(だれ)も知(し)らない。
No one knows what happened to him.
息子(むすこ)の身(み)の上(うえ)が心配(しんぱい)で、夜(よる)も眠(ねむ)れない。
I'm so worried about my son's well-being that I can't sleep at night.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 身(み)の上(うえ)を語(かた)る (to tell one's life story)
  • 身(み)の上(うえ)を案(あん)じる (to worry about someone's well-being)
  • 身(み)の上(うえ)話(ばなし) (a personal story; life story)
  • 身(み)の上(うえ)相談(そうだん) (a personal advice column/consultation)

USAGE:
身(み)の上(うえ)相談(そうだん) is a well-known newspaper feature where readers write in about personal problems. 身(み)の上(うえ)話(ばなし) often implies a tale of hardship or an emotional personal account.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 境遇(きょうぐう): circumstances, situation — more formal and literary
  • 生(お)い立(た)ち: upbringing — focuses specifically on how one was raised
  • 身分(みぶん): social status — focuses on rank or position in society
general
Added 2026.3.22 18:52
18500/18599_minoue