高低
gāodī
The English phrase 'height' is translated into Chinese as 高低 (gāodī) or 高度.
Meaning: distance from bottom to top (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 高低 | gāodī |
| 高度 | gāodù |
The term 高度 is used to mean height in a literal sense, but it can also mean degree or level metaphorically.
Which one should you use?
高度 (gāodù) is the standard noun for a specific measurement of height, whereas 高低 (gāodī) is often used to refer to the relative difference in height or the concept of 'highs and lows'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a person's height as an adjective, one uses the single character 高 (gāo) rather than the noun forms.
How do you pronounce it?
gāodī
Did you know?
- The term 高低 can be used in a colloquial way to mean 'to settle a dispute' or 'to see who is better', effectively meaning 'to see who is higher'.
- The character 高 used in both 高度 and 高低 is a pictograph that originally depicted a tall building or a tower.
- The character 高 (gāo) is often used in names to imply a person will have a grand or lofty future. It transcends mere physical measurement to become a wish for success.
Examples in context
- 他的身高大约170厘米。His height is approximately 170 centimeters.
- 我们需要测量孩子们的身高。We need to measure the children's height.
- 高个子男生在篮球队中往往很受欢迎，因为他们的身高适合打篮球。Tall boys are often popular in basketball teams because their height is suitable for playing basketball.
- 这种方法据说可以帮助人们增高。This method is said to help people grow taller.
- 墙的高低不太一致。Qiáng de gāodī bù tài yīzhì.The height of the wall is not very consistent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “height” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
