Translation guide
Describes something intellectual, cultured, or sophisticated, often with a nuance of being elite or difficult for average people to appreciate.
Describing a person, taste, or activity as intellectual, cultured, or sophisticated.
Means 'highbrow' in the sense of being elevated, refined, or intellectual. Often used for hobbies, tastes, or cultural activities.
彼は高尚な趣味を持っている。
He has highbrow tastes.
Means 'intellectual' and is a natural, common way to describe highbrow people or content.
あの人はとても知的な会話を好む。
That person prefers very intellectual conversation.
Literally 'for intellectuals'. Used for media, events, or products aimed at a highly educated audience.
この雑誌はインテリ向けの内容だ。
This magazine has highbrow content.
A literary term meaning 'highbrow' or 'aloof from worldly affairs', often used for art or literature.
彼の小説は高踏的で難解だ。
His novels are highbrow and difficult.
Implying that someone looks down on popular culture or considers themselves superior in taste.
Means 'to act like an intellectual' or 'to put on airs of being cultured'. Carries a negative nuance of pretentiousness.
彼はいつも知識人ぶって難しい本の話をする。
He always acts highbrow and talks about difficult books.
Means 'pretentious' or 'affected'. Often used for someone who tries to appear sophisticated.
あのレストランは気取っていて入りにくい。
That restaurant is highbrow and hard to enter.
Loanword from 'snob'. Describes someone who looks down on things considered lowbrow.
彼のスノッブな態度が嫌いだ。
I hate his highbrow attitude.
Referring to entertainment, art, or media that is considered intellectually demanding or culturally refined.
Literally 'highbrow entertainment'. Used for classical music, opera, literary fiction, etc.
オペラは高尚な娯楽だと思われている。
Opera is considered highbrow entertainment.
Means 'difficult art', implying it is not easily understood by the general public.
現代アートは難解な芸術だと言われる。
Contemporary art is said to be highbrow.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'highbrow'. Using 高尚 (こうしょう) is closest, but it can sound stiff. In casual conversation, 難しい (むずかしい, difficult) or マニア向け (マニアむけ, for enthusiasts) may be more natural depending on context.