以上 vs 以上 for numbers vs words: half full/half empty?


Well, 以上 is used after a speech to indicate that the speech has been concluded
(i.e., 'Everything before this has been said.'). 以上 is used in numbers to mean
'or more', as in `八十%以上` (as in, 'Everything after this is included.'). If you
want to say, "80% or less", you say `八十%以下` or `八十％以外` for "anything but 80%".
Are 以上 and 以上 only homonyms and homophones, or are the words somehow
synonymous, by definition?




In both examples, `上` means 'above'. When you are talking about something that
already has a scale, that naturally applies. Towards the higher end will be
'above' and the lower end will be 'below'. In case of speach or writing, there
is no inherent scale, so a scale has to be added. And the normal habit is
that, in writing, the flow goes from the top of the page to the bottom, so if
you refer to something previously mentioned, that corresponds to 'above'. That
is carried over to speech.




In both examples, `上` means 'above'. When you are talking about something that
already has a scale, that naturally applies. Towards the higher end will be
'above' and the lower end will be 'below'. In case of speach or writing, there
is no inherent scale, so a scale has to be added. And the normal habit is
that, in writing, the flow goes from the top of the page to the bottom, so if
you refer to something previously mentioned, that corresponds to 'above'. That
is carried over to speech.

