For example:
６割以上の国民がイタリア軍のイラク撤退を求めている。 (More than 60 percent of Italians support the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq.)1
In the sentence above, "more than 60 percent" could mean 61% or even 65%. Typically, if the actual figure is 61.3 %, then we might just simplify the number and say "more than 60 percent."
If the figure were a general number like 65% or 70% or even 75%, then we could just say "65 percent," "70 percent," or "75 percent."
Another important point is that "more than 60 percent" means that the number does NOT inlcude 60.
Here are some other phrases that use 以上 in different ways:
- 6割以上 → over 60 percent
- 6割以上 → greater than 60 percent
- 10以上20以 → from ten to twenty inclusive
- Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2 or greater) → Windowsバージョン2000以上
- Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2 or higher) → Windowsバージョン2000SP2以上
- Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2 or later) → Windowsバージョン2000SP2以降
- From 21 and up → 21歳から上; 21歳以上
- 10 kilometers or further → 10キロメートル以上
- in their late 60s and older → 60代後半以上の
- over-65 employees → 65歳を超える社員
- over-65 employees → 65歳から上の社員
- cost upwards of $100 → 100ドル以上かかる
- beyond four months → 4カ月以上
- more than double → 2倍以上
- in excess of 10,000 yen → 1万円以上
- past 500 rpm → 500回転以上
Can you think of any other examples? Send me email or ask me in class!
1. 和英対照・天声人語[2004/06/11]
