Upscale describes things made for rich people, and for people who want to look rich. An upscale restaurant, an upscale hotel, an upscale part of town, an upscale shopping mall. It is mostly American English; British speakers are more likely to say 'upmarket' for the same idea.

Upscale describes things made for rich peopleUpscale 形容的是為有錢人做的東西, and for people who want to look rich也包括想讓自己看起來有錢的人。An upscale restaurant, an upscale hotel, an upscale part of town, an upscale shopping mall像 an upscale restaurant（高檔餐廳）、an upscale hotel（高檔飯店）、an upscale part of town（高級地段）、an upscale shopping mall（高檔購物中心）。It is mostly American English這主要是美式英文的用法; British speakers are more likely to say 'upmarket' for the same idea英式英文比較常用 'upmarket' 表達同樣的意思。

Notice what the word is really pointing at. It is not simply saying 'good' or 'expensive' — it is saying 'aimed at customers with money'. That is why businesses love the word about themselves: 'We are opening a more upscale line.' It sounds like a compliment while it is really a description of the price tag.

Notice what the word is really pointing at注意這個字真正指的是什麼。It is not simply saying 'good' or 'expensive'它不只是「好」或「貴」的意思 — it is saying 'aimed at customers with money'而是「針對有錢客群」。That is why businesses love the word about themselves這就是為什麼商家很愛用這個字形容自己: 'We are opening a more upscale line.'像 'We are opening a more upscale line.'（我們要推出更高檔的產品線）It sounds like a compliment聽起來像稱讚 while it is really a description of the price tag其實只是在描述價位。

And this is where it gets interesting. Because the word points at the customer, not at the thing, it can be used with a small sting. If your friend says 'Oh, that place is very upscale,' the tone may mean 'nice', or it may mean 'expensive and a bit full of itself, not for people like us.' Listen to the voice.

And this is where it gets interesting有意思的地方就在這裡。Because the word points at the customer, not at the thing因為這個字指向的是客人，不是東西本身, it can be used with a small sting用起來可以帶一點小刺。If your friend says 'Oh, that place is very upscale,'如果朋友說 'Oh, that place is very upscale,' the tone may mean 'nice'語氣可能是「不錯」的意思, or it may mean 'expensive and a bit full of itself, not for people like us.'也可能是「貴又有點自命不凡，不是我們這種人去的地方」。Listen to the voice要聽聽語氣。

Upscale is usually an adjective before a noun. There is also a verb 'to upscale', meaning to make something bigger or more expensive, but that one is much less common in everyday talk, and in technology it means something separate again — making a picture bigger, as when a TV upscales an old video to fit a big screen. If your students meet the verb, it is most likely that computer meaning.

Upscale is usually an adjective before a nounUpscale 通常是放在名詞前面的形容詞。There is also a verb 'to upscale'也有動詞 'to upscale', meaning to make something bigger or more expensive意思是讓東西變大或變得更高級, but that one is much less common in everyday talk但這個用法在日常對話裡少見很多, and in technology it means something separate again在科技領域又是另一個意思 — making a picture bigger是把畫面放大, as when a TV upscales an old video to fit a big screen像電視把舊的影片放大以符合大螢幕。If your students meet the verb如果學生碰到這個動詞, it is most likely that computer meaning最有可能就是這個科技上的意思。