1.
in practice; practically; from a practical standpoint
Used to contrast what theoretically or officially ought to be the case with what actually happens in real-world practice. Signals that the speaker is describing how things function on the ground, as opposed to how they are defined on paper.
実際上問題はない。
In practice, there is no problem.
実際上、この規則は守られていない。
In practice, this rule is not being observed.
理論上は可能だが、実際上はコストが高すぎて実現できない。
It is theoretically possible, but in practice the cost is too high for it to be feasible.
Compound of 実際 ('actual reality; practice') and the suffix 上 ('on the level of; from the standpoint of'). Frequently paired in contrast with 理論上 ('in theory') or 法律上 ('legally speaking') to distinguish real-world practice from abstract principle.
USAGE:
- Typically appears at the beginning of a clause as a sentence-level modifier, with or without a following comma.
- Common in academic, legal, business, and technical writing where the gap between rule and practice matters.
- Can also function as a noun modifier: 実際上の問題 ('a practical problem').
- The negative pattern 実際上...ない ('in practice, not...') is especially frequent.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 実際上問題はない: in practice, there is no problem
- 実際上不可能だ: practically impossible
- 実際上の影響: practical effect
- 実際上の効果: real-world effect
- 理論上と実際上: in theory and in practice
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 実際: actually; in reality — the base word; used more broadly in conversation where 実際上 would sound stiff.
- 事実上: in effect; de facto — stresses that something is effectively true even if not formally so; closer to 'for all intents and purposes'.
- 現実的に: realistically speaking — emphasizes feasibility and common sense rather than contrast with theory.
- 理論上: in theory — direct antonym, often used in the same sentence.
- 実用上: for practical use — narrower, focused on hands-on usability of a tool, product, or method.