高

• Pinyin: gāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 高 = pictograph of a tall building or watchtower, representing height

Meaning

Tall; high. Describes height of people or objects, or a high level of something.

Used for the height of people (他很高), buildings (高楼), mountains, and abstract things like quality (高级, high-grade) or temperature (高温). The opposite is 矮 (short for people) or 低 (low for things). Also a very common surname.

Examples

1. 他个子很高。 He is very tall.
2. 那座山很高。 That mountain is very high.
3. 姐姐比我高。 My older sister is taller than me.

Usage Guide

Context: description, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 你真高！你有多高？(You're so tall! How tall are you?)
• 这棵树很高。(This tree is very tall.)

Don't Say

• 价钱很高。(While understandable, 价格高 or 贵 is more natural for expensive prices)

Origin & History

A pictograph of a tall building or watchtower. The character's shape suggests a structure with a high roof, representing the concept of height.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal