面 miàn — fade; side; surface; aspect; top; face
桌面上放着一台电脑。Zhuō miàn shàng fàng zhe yì tái diàn nǎo.There is a computer on the desk.
Common words: 后面 (hòu mian)、前面 (qián miàn)、见面 (jiàn miàn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "top"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "top", including 面 (miàn), 极 (jí), 顶 (dǐng), 盖 (gài / gě), 颠 (diān). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "top" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 面 (miàn), 极 (jí), 顶 (dǐng), 盖 (gài / gě), 颠 (diān) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span miàn, jí, dǐng, gài, gě, diān — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 面 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 面 miànfade; side; surface; aspect; top; faceUseful words: 后面, 前面
- 极 jíextremely; pole (geography; physics); utmost; topUseful words: 极了, 积极
- 顶 dǐnggo against; most; peak; top; to replace; to substituteUseful words: 山顶, 顶级
- 盖 gài / gělid; top; cover; canopy; to build; (surname)Useful words: 覆盖, 膝盖
- 颠 diāninverted; jolt; topUseful words: 颠倒, 颠簸
Common words for these 5 "top" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 面 (miàn) — so "top" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
后面hòu mianthe back; the rear; the last bit; behind前面qián miànahead; in front; preceding; above见面jiàn miànto meet; to see each other极了jí leextremely; exceedingly积极jī jíactive; energetic; vigorous; positive (outlook)积极性jī jí xìngzeal; initiative; enthusiasm; activity山顶shān dǐnghilltop顶级dǐng jítop-notch; first-rate屋顶wū dǐngroof覆盖fù gàito cover
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "top".
极 jí — extremely; pole (geography; physics); utmost; top
今天的风景美极了。Jīn tiān de fēng jǐng měi jí le.The scenery today is extremely beautiful.
Common words: 极了 (jí le)、积极 (jī jí)、积极性 (jī jí xìng)
顶 dǐng — go against; most; peak; top; to replace; to substitute
我们终于爬到了山顶。Wǒ men zhōng yú pá dào le shān dǐng.We finally climbed to the top of the mountain.
Common words: 山顶 (shān dǐng)、顶级 (dǐng jí)、屋顶 (wū dǐng)
盖 gài / gě — lid; top; cover; canopy; to build; (surname)
天冷了，睡觉要盖好被子。Tiān lěng le, shuì jiào yào gài hǎo bèi zi.When it is cold, cover yourself well with a quilt when sleeping.
Common words: 覆盖 (fù gài)、膝盖 (xī gài)、掩盖 (yǎn gài)
颠 diān — inverted; jolt; top
山路坑坑洼洼，车子颠得很厉害。Shān lù kēng kēng wā wā, chē zi diān de hěn lì hài.The mountain road is bumpy, and the car jolts a lot.
Common words: 颠倒 (diān dǎo)、颠簸 (diān bǒ)、颠覆 (diān fù)
All 5 characters
Open 面、极、顶 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.