背が高い
se ga takai
In Japanese, the English phrase "tall" (referring to a person) is said as 背が高い (se ga takai).
The phrase 背が高い is used to describe a person's height. While you can use 身長が高い to specifically mean "having a high stature," the word 大きい (big or large) is also sometimes used to imply that someone is tall.
Meaning: of a person (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 背 (se), meaning 'stature' or 'back', the particle が (ga) and 高い (takai), meaning 'high'.
Which one should you use?
To describe someone who is short rather than tall, you replace the adjective 高い (high) with 低い (low) to say 背が低い.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite, you can add です to the end of the dictionary form to get 背が高いです.
How do you pronounce it?
se ga takai
Did you know?
- While 高い means 'high' or 'tall', it is also the word for 'expensive'. Depending on the context, the same word can describe a person's height or the price of a luxury watch.
- The word 低い (low) is used for 'short' people, but the word 短い (short) is used for 'short' objects like strings. Using 短い to describe a person's height would sound like you are talking about their limbs rather than their stature.
- When describing a building as tall, Japanese uses 高い but does not use the word 背 (back). Using 背が高い for a skyscraper would be a mistake because that phrase is reserved for living beings.
Examples in context
- 私は背が高い。I am tall.This sentence is useful for stating that you are tall.Tatoeba #154632 by bunbuku, translation #436275 by lukaszpp
- 君って背が高いの？Are you tall?This sentence is useful for asking someone if they are tall.Tatoeba #9478232 by small_snow, translation #3172325 by CK
- 彼は背が高いですか。Is he tall?This sentence is useful for asking if he is tall in a polite manner.Tatoeba #101290 by bunbuku, translation #302406 by CK
- 彼は背が高いです。He is tall.
- 彼は背の高い人です。He is a tall person.
- 彼は背が高いよね。He is tall, right?
- 彼は背が高くて立派な人だ。He is a tall and impressive person.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking about a new coworker at the office.
- 健太 Kenta新しい同僚は、背が高いですね。Atarashii douryoku wa, se ga takai desu ne.The new colleague is tall, isn't he?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、とても背が高いです。Hai, totemo se ga takai desu.Yes, he is very tall.
- 健太 Kentaモデルみたいですね。Moderu mitai desu ne.He looks like a model.
- 結衣 Yui本当にそうですね。Hontou ni sou desu ne.He really does.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
