高い（たかい、takai）
- expensive

The Japanese word 高い (たかい, takai) primarily means "high," "tall," "expensive," or "loud." Its specific meaning depends on the context in which it's used. It can describe physical height, cost, volume, or even intensity. This is an adjective and is used to modify nouns or to describe the state of something.

⚫︎ あの山は高い Translation: That mountain is tall. ⚫︎ この車は高い Translation: This car is expensive. ⚫︎ 声が高い Translation: The voice is high/loud.

高い is used to describe something that is physically tall or elevated. It's also used to describe the price of something, similar to the English word "expensive." Moreover, it can indicate a high volume or pitch, often used when referring to a voice or a sound. It is a very common word and applicable in various situations.

⚫︎ The word is typically written in kanji as 高い. ⚫︎ The reading in hiragana is たかい. ⚫︎ The okurigana is "い". ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word.

⚫︎ 背が高い (せが高い) - tall (referring to height of a person) ⚫︎ 値段が高い (ねだんが高い) - expensive ⚫︎ 大きい (おおきい) - big/large (can sometimes be used for the concept of "high" degree or level, but not for physical height.)

⚫︎ 低い (ひくい) - low, short (opposite of height or volume) ⚫︎ 安い (やすい) - cheap (opposite of price)

東京タワーは高いですね。 ・Translation: Tokyo Tower is tall, isn't it? ・Explanation: This sentence uses 高い to describe the physical height of the Tokyo Tower.

このパソコンは高いから、買えない。 ・Translation: This computer is expensive, so I can't buy it. ・Explanation: Here, 高い means "expensive" and is used in relation to the price of the computer.

The etymology of 高い is not definitively known, but it is believed to have originated from the adjective form of the verb たかまる (takamaru), meaning "to rise" or "to be elevated". The "k" sound likely hardened over time from the original "g" sound.