Grammar
N3 connective

After (formal) 〜上で

Meaning

"After ~ing (and on that basis)" — a deliberate step taken before deciding.

Formation

Notes

Formal, and the first action must be deliberate and necessary to what follows: よく考えた上で決めます. Distinct from 〜てから, which is a plain sequence, and from the literal 机の上 ("on the desk").

Examples

I would like to decide after thinking it over properly.

Breakdown
thought carefully after (and on that basis) want to decide

I will contact you after checking the documents.

Breakdown
checked the documents after will contact

I will reply after consulting my parents.

Breakdown
consultation with parents after will reply

Please sign after reading the contents carefully.

Breakdown
contents after reading carefully sign

I want to judge after actually seeing it.

Breakdown
actually saw after want to judge

⚠️ Often confused with

After doing 〜後で

"After doing ~". Attach to the ta-form of a verb, or a noun + の. Note the contrast with...

After doing (and then) 〜てから

"After doing ~ (and only then ~)". Emphasizes that action B happens AFTER action A is comp...

Before doing 〜前に

"Before doing ~". Attach to the dictionary form of a verb or a noun + の. The action AFTER...

The moment 〜たとたん

"The moment ~", "just as ~" — the second event follows instantly and unexpectedly.

As soon as 〜次第

"As soon as ~", "the moment ~ is done". Formal, and always about the future.

Ever since 〜以来

"Ever since ~" — a state that has held continuously from a past point until now.

Every time 〜たびに

"Every time ~", "whenever ~" — the second thing happens on each occasion of the first.

After an interval 〜ぶり

"After an interval of ~" — how long it has been since this last happened.

No sooner than 〜かと思うと

"No sooner had ~ than ~", "just when you think ~" — two events tread on each other.

Just as / right when 〜ところに

"Just as ~", "right when ~" — something arrives at exactly that moment.

At the time of 〜に際して

Formal "on the occasion of ~", "at the time of ~" — used as something significant begins.

Only after 〜てはじめて

"Only after ~", "not until ~ did I …".

Ever since then 〜てからというもの

"Ever since ~" — a turning point after which things have stayed changed.

Prior to 〜に先立って

"Prior to ~", "in advance of ~" — a preliminary step before a major event.

On the occasion of 〜際(に)

A formal "when ~", "on the occasion of ~".

The instant that 〜が早いか

"The instant ~ happened, ...", "no sooner ~ than ...".

Scarcely when 〜や否や

"As soon as ~", "scarcely had ~ when ..." — the two events are almost simultaneous.

No sooner done than undone 〜そばから

"No sooner is ~ done than (it is undone)" — the effort is immediately cancelled out.

Immediately upon 〜なり

"The moment ~", "immediately upon ~ing" — one action leads straight into an unexpected nex...

Marking the turning point 〜を境に

"With ~ as the dividing line", "ever since ~" — a clear before and after.

While also doing 〜がてら

"While ~ing", "taking the opportunity of ~ing to also ..." — two purposes in one outing.

On the verge of 〜間際に

"Just as ~ is about to happen", "at the very last moment before ~".