以上 / 以下【yǐshàng / yǐxià】

以上 and 以下 go after a number, an age or a grade and set a limit: everything above it, or everything below it. They come after the number, the reverse of English "over 18".

Is the number itself included?

In rules, laws and notices, 以上 and 以下 include the number named: 六十岁以上 covers people who are exactly sixty. Everyday speech is looser about it. When the limit has to exclude the number, formal writing says 不满 or 超过 instead.

With a grade, level or rank, 以上 and 以下 cover that grade and everything beyond it.

Pointing at a text

Without a number, 以上 sums up what has just been said and 以下 introduces what follows. This is the language of speeches, reports and emails.

Word order

English puts "over" before the number. 以上 never does.

• × 以上十八岁 → 十八岁以上