上巻(じょうかん)

じょうかん
noun
first volume; upper volume (of a two- or three-part work)
1. first volume; upper volume
The first volume of a book or work published in two or three parts. The pairing is 上巻(じょうかん) / 下巻(げかん) for two-part works, or 上巻(じょうかん) / 中巻(ちゅうかん) / 下巻(げかん) for three.
上巻(じょうかん)を先(さき)に読(よ)んだ。
I read the first volume first.
この小説(しょうせつ)は上巻(じょうかん)と下巻(げかん)に分(わ)かれている。
This novel is divided into a first volume and a second volume.
上巻(じょうかん)の結末(けつまつ)が衝撃的(しょうげきてき)で、すぐに下巻(げかん)を読(よ)みたくなった。
The ending of the first volume was shocking, and I immediately wanted to read the second.

Used for books published in two or three physical volumes. The pair is 下巻(げかん) (second volume); for three-part sets, 中巻(ちゅうかん) (middle volume) is added in between.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 上巻(じょうかん)を読(よ)む: read the first volume
  • 上巻(じょうかん)・下巻(げかん): first and second volumes (set notation)
  • 上巻(じょうかん)発売中(はつばいちゅう): first volume on sale now

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 下巻(げかん): second / last volume — the pair of 上巻(じょうかん)
  • 第一巻(だいいっかん): volume 1 — used for numbered series of any length
  • 前編(ぜんぺん): first part — used more for stories told in installments (films, articles)
general
Added 2026.5.31 11:08
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