- 上层建筑 shàngcéngjiànzhù superstructureThe cultural and institutional components of a society, such as its legal system, religion, and philosophy, which are built upon its economic foundation.
- 更上层楼 gèngshàngcénglóu to reach a higher levelTo achieve even greater progress or reach a new peak in one's work or studies; originally from a Tang Dynasty poem by [[王之涣|王之渙|wang2 zhi1 huan4]] implying that to see further, one must climb higher.
- 上层社会 shàngcéngshèhuì upper classthe upper strata of society; high society