Translation guide
The English word "height" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese, including physical tallness, altitude, peak periods, and figurative extremes. The most common Japanese equivalents are 高さ (takasa) for measurable height and 身長 (shinchō) for human height.
The height of the mountain is 3,776 meters.
Use 高さ (takasa) for general measurable height.
Referring to how tall a person is.
The standard word for human height. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
My height is 170 cm.
Literally 'back' or 'stature', used in compounds like 背が高い (tall) or 背の順 (order by height). Not used alone for 'height'.
Refers to upper body height or stature, sometimes used in clothing or formal descriptions.
Referring to how high something is, like a building, mountain, or shelf.
The most common word for height as a measurable dimension. Works for objects, buildings, mountains, etc.
Referring to the height of summer, a career, a crisis, etc.
Referring to the height of stupidity, fashion, etc.
Means 'the height of' or 'the ultimate in'. Often used in set phrases.
高さ (takasa) is the general term for height of objects, while 身長 (shinchō) is specifically for human height. Using 高さ for a person sounds unnatural.
His height is 180 cm.
Please measure my height.
He is tall.
A man of tall stature.
この机の高さは70センチです。
The height of this desk is 70 cm.
The height of Mt. Fuji is 3,776 meters.
Used for altitude, especially in aviation, geography, or technical contexts. Not for everyday object height.
The plane is flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
Elevation above sea level, used for mountains and land. Common in geography.
The elevation of this mountain is 2,000 meters.
Means 'in the midst of' or 'at the height of'. Used for ongoing events or periods.
It's the height of summer.
He is now at the height of his life.
Attached to nouns to mean 'the height of' or 'peak of'. Often used with seasons or life stages.
Now is the height of the flowers' bloom.
Literally 'summit' or 'peak', used for the height of power, fame, or pleasure. Somewhat literary.
He was at the height of his power.
That is the height of rudeness.
Literally 'nothing above this', meaning 'the utmost' or 'the height of'. Used with adjectives or nouns.
This is the height of happiness.
The height of this building is 200 meters.
While 高さ means 'height', it is not used for human height. Always use 身長 for people.