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最高級 (saikoukyuu) Japanese meaning: highest grade | Kotomora

最さい高こう級きゅう

さ

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きゅ

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Meanings

1

highest grade; top class

Used for products, services, quality, or rank that is at the very top level. Often appears in commercial or evaluative contexts.

このホテルは最さい高こう級きゅうのサービスを提てい供きょうしている。

This hotel provides top-class service.

最さい高こう級きゅうの牛ぎゅう肉にくを使つかったステーキです。

This is a steak made with the highest-grade beef.

Usage patterns

最さい高こう級きゅうの〈物もの〉top-grade / highest-class ~
このホテルは最さい高こう級きゅうのサービスを提てい供きょうしている。
This hotel offers top-class service.
世せ界かい最さい高こう級きゅうの〈物もの〉world-class / world's finest ~
このワインは世せ界かい最さい高こう級きゅうと言いわれている。
This wine is said to be one of the finest in the world.

Kanji

最utmost, most, extreme
高tall, high, expensive
級class, rank, grade

Related words

最さい高こうN3
最高 broadly means 'the best' or 'supreme' in any sense, while 最高級 specifically denotes the top rank in a graded quality or price tier.
極ごく上じょう
極上 describes something of the finest, most superb quality, similar to 最高級 but slightly more literary and often used for food or goods.
上じょう等とうN3
上等 means 'of superior quality' and can apply to everyday items, whereas 最高級 stresses being at the absolute peak of a ranked scale.
超ちょう一いち流りゅうN2
最高級 describes the highest grade of a product or quality, whereas 超一流 is used more for people, companies, or skills being top-tier.
トップクラス
最高級 emphasizes the highest grade or quality (often of products or services), while トップクラス is broader and can describe people, teams, or institutions too.

Don't confuse with

高こう級きゅうN3
高級 means 'high-class' or 'luxury' in a general sense, while 最高級 specifically means the very highest of such classes, so learners often mix up the degree implied.

Word family

最さい高こう級きゅう品ひん
top quality products; highest-grade goods

Built from

最さい高こう+級きゅう

Etymology

Compound of 最高 (highest) and 級 (grade, class). The reading is the standard on'yomi combination.