高い
takai[ta̠ka̠i]
In Japanese, "something is expensive" is said using 高い (takai).
The word 高い is used to express that the price of an item is high. Depending on the context, it can also mean 'tall' in terms of physical stature.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 高い (takai) literally means 'high'.
Which one should you use?
While 高い can mean both 'high' and 'tall', its specific meaning is determined by the context of the conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the word in various ways, you can apply the following changes: – Polite form: Adding です to the adjective creates 高いです, which is suitable for most daily conversations. – Emphasis: Adding the suffix ～すぎる to the adjective expresses that something is excessively expensive.
How do you pronounce it?
takai
Did you know?
- When something is too expensive to buy, Japanese speakers might use the phrase 手が出ない which literally means 'cannot reach out my hand'.
- In high-end Japanese shopping, staff may avoid saying 高い and instead use お値段が張ります to politely suggest that a price is steep.
- In some contexts, calling a person's pride 'high' using 高い can be a compliment, suggesting a noble or dignified spirit. This uses the vertical metaphor of the word to describe a psychological state.
Examples in context
- この時計が高いです。This watch is expensive.
- そのホテルが高いです。That hotel is expensive.
- この宝石は高価です。This gemstone is costly.
- その車は高価です。That car is costly.
- この食べ物が高いよ。This food is expensive, you know?
- そのゲームが高いよ。That game is expensive, you know?
- このバッグ、すごく高いよ。This bag is really expensive.
- そのコンサート、すごく高いよ。That concert is really expensive.
- このレストランの料理は高すぎるよ。The food at this restaurant is too expensive.
- それは高すぎるから、買わない方がいいよ。It's too expensive, so it's better not to buy it.
- 日本は物価が高いですね。Nihon wa bukka ga takai desu ne.Prices are expensive in Japan, aren't they?
- そのバッグは少し高い。Sono baggu wa sukoshi takai.That bag is a bit expensive.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at clothes in a department store.
- 陽葵 Himariこのコート、可愛いね。Kono kooto, kawaii ne.This coat is cute, isn't it?
- 健太 Kentaでも、ちょっと高いよ。Demo, chotto takai yo.But it's a little expensive.
- 陽葵 Himari確かに、高いね。Tashika ni, takai ne.True, it is expensive.
- 健太 Kenta他の店を探そう。Hoka no mise o sagasou.Let's look in other stores.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 高い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
