高こう潔けつ

こ

う

け

つ

Meanings

noble; lofty; high-minded; virtuous; upright

Describes a person's character, conduct, or ideals as morally elevated and free from selfishness. Often used in formal or literary contexts.

彼かれは高こう潔けつな人じん物ぶつとして知しられている。
He is known as a person of noble character.
高こう潔けつな精せい神しんを持もって行こう動どうする。
Act with a lofty spirit.

See all 22 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

高こう潔けつな人ひと柄がらa noble/upright character
彼かれは高こう潔けつな人ひと柄がらで多おおくの人ひとに信しん頼らいされている。
He is trusted by many people for his noble character.
高こう潔けつな精せい神しんa noble/lofty spirit
彼かの女じょは困こん難なんな状じょう況きょうでも高こう潔けつな精せい神しんを失うしなわなかった。
She never lost her noble spirit even in difficult circumstances.
高こう潔けつな生いき方かたan upright/virtuous way of life
祖そ父ふは高こう潔けつな生いき方かたを貫つらぬいた人ひとだった。
My grandfather was a man who lived a consistently upright life.

Kanji

高tall, high, expensive
潔undefiled, pure, clean

Related words

崇すう高こう
崇高 emphasizes sublimity and grandeur, often for ideals or natural beauty, while 高潔 focuses specifically on the moral purity and integrity of a person's character.
清せい廉れん
清廉 stresses honesty and freedom from corruption, especially in public or official conduct, while 高潔 is broader, covering overall moral elevation of character.
高こう尚しょうN1
高尚 describes refined, elevated tastes, ideas, or interests, whereas 高潔 describes moral integrity and virtue specifically.

Opposites

卑ひ劣れつN1
卑劣 describes mean, cowardly, or dishonorable conduct, the direct opposite of the noble integrity expressed by 高潔.

Don't confuse with

清せい潔けつN3
清潔 means physically clean or hygienic, while 高潔 means morally noble or upright; despite sharing the kanji 潔, they describe different kinds of purity.
高こう尚しょうN1
高潔 describes a person's moral integrity or uprightness, while 高尚 describes the elevated quality of ideas, tastes, or cultural pursuits.

Word family

品ひん性せい高こう潔けつ
of noble character; of virtuous character

Written forms

高こう潔けつUsage99%
Standard kanji form; high-frequency and priority-tagged.
こうけつUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 高 (high) and 潔 (pure, clean). The combination conveys moral elevation and purity of character. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji components transparently reflect the meaning.