高 gāo — high; tall
他长得很高。Tā zhǎng de hěn gāo.He is very tall.
Common words: 高兴 (gāo xìng)、提高 (tí gāo)、高中 (gāo zhōng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "high"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "high", including 高 (gāo), 崇 (chóng), 昂 (áng), 昂 (áng), 耸 (sǒng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "high" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 高 (gāo), 崇 (chóng), 昂 (áng), 昂 (áng), 耸 (sǒng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span gāo, chóng, áng, sǒng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 高 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 高 gāohigh; tallUseful words: 高兴, 提高
- 崇 chónghigh; dignified; lofty; to honorUseful words: 崇拜, 崇高
- 昂 ánghigh; raise (head); high; soaring; raise; liftUseful words: 昂贵, 高昂
- 昂 ánghigh; raise (head); high; soaring; raise; liftUseful words: 昂贵, 高昂
- 耸 sǒngexcite; raise up; to shrug; high; lofty; toweringUseful words: 耸立, 耸动
Common words for these 5 "high" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 高 (gāo) — so "high" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
高兴gāo xìnghappy; glad; willing (to do sth); in a cheerful mood提高tí gāoto raise; to increase; to improve高中gāo zhōngsenior high school崇拜chóng bàito worship; adoration崇高chóng gāomajestic; sublime崇敬chóng jìngto revere; to venerate; high esteem昂贵áng guìexpensive; costly高昂gāo ángto hold (one's head) high; expensive; high (spirits etc)昂然áng ránupright and unafraid昂贵áng guìexpensive; costly
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "high".
崇 chóng — high; dignified; lofty; to honor
他崇拜那位伟大的科学家。Tā chóng bài nà wèi wěi dà de kē xué jiā.He admires that great scientist.
Common words: 崇拜 (chóng bài)、崇高 (chóng gāo)、崇敬 (chóng jìng)
昂 áng — high; raise (head); high; soaring; raise; lift
运动员们昂首挺胸地走进了赛场。Yùn dòng yuán men áng shǒu tǐng xiōng de zǒu jìn le sài chǎng.The athletes walked into the arena with their heads held high.
Common words: 昂贵 (áng guì)、高昂 (gāo áng)、昂然 (áng rán)
昂 áng — high; raise (head); high; soaring; raise; lift
运动员们昂首挺胸地走进了赛场。Yùn dòng yuán men áng shǒu tǐng xiōng de zǒu jìn le sài chǎng.The athletes walked into the arena with their heads held high.
Common words: 昂贵 (áng guì)、高昂 (gāo áng)、昂然 (áng rán)
耸 sǒng — excite; raise up; to shrug; high; lofty; towering
一座座高楼耸立在城市中心。Yí zuò zuò gāo lóu sǒng lì zài chéng shì zhōng xīn.Tall buildings tower in the city center.
Common words: 耸立 (sǒng lì)、耸动 (sǒng dòng)、高耸 (gāo sǒng)
All 5 characters
Open 高、崇、昂 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.