上回ります（うわまわります、uwamaわriまsu）
- to exceed

The Japanese word 上回ります, read as うわまわります (uwamawarimasu), means "to exceed," "to surpass," "to go beyond," or "to top" something. It implies that something has exceeded a certain level, amount, or expectation. It suggests a situation where one thing is greater than another in terms of quantity, quality, or value. The subject of the verb usually indicates what does the surpassing, while the object typically represents what is being surpassed. This verb expresses a comparative relationship where one element is higher or greater than another. The 上回ります form is a polite, present/future tense form.

⚫︎ 今年の売上は去年の売上を上回ります。 Translation: This year's sales exceed last year's sales. ⚫︎ 彼のパフォーマンスは期待を上回ります。 Translation: His performance exceeds expectations. ⚫︎ 輸出額は輸入額を上回ります。 Translation: The export amount surpasses the import amount.

上回ります is used in formal or polite situations, often in business contexts, reports, or when discussing data. It's suitable when you want to emphasize that something is greater than something else, or that something has exceeded a particular benchmark. It’s frequently used to compare numbers, performances, or achievements. Other conjugations include 上回った (uwamawatta - past tense, surpassed), 上回る (uwamawaru - plain form, surpasses/exceeds), and 上回りましょう (uwamawarimashou - let's surpass).

⚫︎ The word is typically written in kanji 上回ります. ⚫︎ The reading is うわまわります (uwamawarimasu). ⚫︎ The okurigana (the hiragana after the kanji) is まります. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word, although the plain form is 上回る.

⚫︎ 超える (koeru): to exceed, to surpass. ⚫︎ 凌ぐ (shinogu): to surpass, to excel. ⚫︎ 勝る (masaru): to excel, to surpass, to be superior. ⚫︎ 上回る (上回ります) can often be used interchangeably with these.

⚫︎ 下回る (shitamawaru): to fall below, to be less than. ⚫︎ 及ばない (oyobanai): to not reach, to be insufficient. ⚫︎ 劣る (otoru): to be inferior, to be less good.

当社の今期の利益は、昨年の実績を上回ります。 ・Translation: Our profit this term exceeds last year's results. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how 上回ります is used in a business context to compare current performance to past performance.

この製品の品質は、競合他社の製品の品質を上回ります。 ・Translation: The quality of this product surpasses the quality of the competitor's product. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 上回ります in the context of product comparison, highlighting superior quality.

The word 上回ります is formed from the kanji 上 (ue - above, top) and 回る (mawaru - to turn, to go around). The combination implies going "above" or "beyond" the target or a certain point. The addition of the polite suffix ます creates the polite, present/future tense conjugation.