高
tall, high, expensive
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- たか.い
- たか
- -だか
- たか.まる
- たか.める
Nanori
- か
- こ
- じょい
- た
- はか
Meaning
高 centers on vertical extent or degree: something tall, high in position or level, and by extension expensive (high in price).
Most common words using 高
24 of 1,046- 高いたかいN5
high; tall
- 高たかN1
quantity; amount; volume; number; amount of money
- 最高さいこうN3
best; supreme; wonderful; finest
- 高校こうこうN5
senior high school; high school
- 高速こうそくN3
high-speed; rapid; express
- 高校生こうこうせいN4
senior high school student
- 高級こうきゅうN3
high-class; high-grade; high-quality; high-end; luxury
- 高齢こうれいN3
advanced age; old age
- 高度こうどN2
altitude; height; elevation
- 女子高じょしこう
girls' high school
- 高まるたかまるN2
to rise; to swell; to be promoted
- 高等こうとうN2
high class; high grade
- 高額こうがく
large sum (of money); large amount
- 高価こうかN3
highly priced; expensive; valuable; costly
- 高めるたかめるN2
to raise; to lift; to boost; to enhance
- 標高ひょうこう
elevation; height above sea level
- 高性能こうせいのうN2
high efficiency; high performance
- 高山こうざん
high mountain; alpine mountain
- 高値たかね
high price
- 高まりたかまり
rise; swell; elevation; upsurge
- 高層こうそうN2
high-rise (building); multistory; multistoried; tall
- 最高裁さいこうさい
Supreme Court
- 高温こうおんN1
high temperature
- 高騰こうとう
sharp rise (in prices); steep rise; substantial increase; soaring
Study
Etymology
高 is a pictograph of a tall watchtower or raised structure, with the modern form preserving a roof-like top and a base. The idea of height extends naturally to high cost.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a tall watchtower: the top 亠 is the roof, the middle 口 is a window, and the bottom 冂 with another 口 inside is the enclosed base. The whole structure stands high above the ground.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a tall tower so high it touches the clouds, and a person named Kou standing on top shouting 'Kou!' to be heard from such a height.