In 15 Seconds
- Refers to days with higher-than-average prices or costs.
- Commonly used for travel, tickets, and seasonal events.
- Simple combination of 'expensive' (takai) and 'day' (hi).
Meaning
This phrase refers to a specific day when prices are higher than usual or when you find yourself spending a lot of money. It is commonly used when discussing travel dates, ticket prices, or seasonal fluctuations in costs.
Key Examples
3 of 6Looking at a hotel booking calendar
Doyoubi wa takai hi desu ne.
Saturday is an expensive day, isn't it?
Trying to save money on a flight
Takai hi ni wa ryokou shimasen.
I don't travel on expensive days.
Discussing holiday surcharges with a clerk
Kyou wa takai hi desu ka?
Is today an expensive day?
Cultural Background
The 'Golden Week' period is the ultimate '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}' cluster. Prices for everything from karaoke to hotels skyrocket. Many Japanese supermarkets have '{安|やす}い{日|ひ}' (Cheap Days) like 'Egg Day' or 'Meat Day' to balance out the '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}'. Dynamic pricing is becoming common in Japanese theme parks like USJ and Tokyo Disneyland, creating clear '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}' on weekends. The concept of 'Shun' (seasonality) means that certain foods have '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}' when they first appear in the market (Hatsumono).
Use with 'Bakari'
Saying '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}ばかり' (nothing but expensive days) makes you sound very natural when complaining about holiday prices.
Don't say 'Takai Tenki'
Even though it's a 'day,' you can't use 'takai' to describe 'high weather.' Stick to '{日|ひ}'.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to days with higher-than-average prices or costs.
- Commonly used for travel, tickets, and seasonal events.
- Simple combination of 'expensive' (takai) and 'day' (hi).
What It Means
高い日 is a simple way to describe a day that hits your wallet harder than others. It is not a complex idiom. It is a literal description of time and cost. You use it when you look at a calendar and see that a hotel room costs double on a Saturday. It is about the price tag attached to a specific date.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase just like any other noun phrase in Japanese. You will often see it followed by desu to make a statement. For example, Kyou wa takai hi desu (Today is an expensive day). You can also use it to modify other thoughts. If you are looking at a flight schedule, you might point and say Takai hi wa yamemashou (Let’s avoid the expensive days). It is very flexible and easy for beginners to slot into sentences.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase during travel planning. Use it at a travel agency or when booking a hotel online. It is also perfect for talking about movie tickets or theme park passes that have dynamic pricing. If you are out with friends and realize everything costs more because it is a holiday, this phrase fits perfectly. It is a great way to express a little bit of shared frustration over high prices.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this phrase to describe a 'tall' day. While takai can mean 'tall,' it only means 'expensive' when paired with time or items. Also, avoid using it if the price is always high. If a restaurant is always expensive, it is a takai mise (expensive shop), not a takai hi. This phrase is specifically for when the price changes based on the day. Do not use it to describe a 'busy' day either; for that, use isogashii hi.
Cultural Background
Japan loves its seasons, and that includes 'price seasons.' There are specific times like Golden Week, Obon, and New Year’s where everything becomes a takai hi. Japanese people are very sensitive to these shifts. Many budget-conscious travelers will specifically look for yasui hi (cheap days) to avoid the crowds and the costs. Understanding this phrase helps you navigate the reality of Japanese holiday pricing.
Common Variations
You will often hear takai jiki (expensive period) for longer stretches of time. If you want to be more specific about why it is expensive, you might hear shukujitsu (holiday) or shuumatsu (weekend). Another common one is hi-peaku (off-peak), which is the opposite of what makes a day expensive. If you want to sound a bit more casual, you might just say kyou wa takai ne! (today is expensive, huh!).
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. Just remember that it specifically refers to monetary cost, not height or emotional weight.
Use with 'Bakari'
Saying '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}ばかり' (nothing but expensive days) makes you sound very natural when complaining about holiday prices.
Don't say 'Takai Tenki'
Even though it's a 'day,' you can't use 'takai' to describe 'high weather.' Stick to '{日|ひ}'.
Examples
6Doyoubi wa takai hi desu ne.
Saturday is an expensive day, isn't it?
Using 'ne' at the end seeks agreement from the person you are with.
Takai hi ni wa ryokou shimasen.
I don't travel on expensive days.
This shows a personal rule or habit regarding spending.
Kyou wa takai hi desu ka?
Is today an expensive day?
A polite way to ask if holiday pricing is in effect.
Kono hi wa takai hi da kara, betsu no hi ni shiyou!
This day is expensive, so let's pick a different day!
The use of 'da kara' links the reason to the suggestion.
Aa, kyou wa hontou ni takai hi da!
Ah, today is truly an expensive day!
Used humorously when many expenses happen at once.
Takai hi o sakeru no wa muzukashii desu.
It is difficult to avoid the expensive days.
Refers to the struggle of avoiding peak-season costs for events.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct adjective form.
{土曜日|どようび}はホテルが（ ）{日|ひ}です。
We use the dictionary form of the {い}-adjective to modify the noun '{日|ひ}'.
Which sentence means 'I avoided the expensive day'?
Choose the correct translation.
'{避|さ}ける' means to avoid.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {航空券|こうくうけん}、いくらだった？ B: 10{万|まん}えん。すごく（ ）だったよ。
The context of a specific price for a ticket makes '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}' the most natural fit.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Price Calendar Visualization
Practice Bank
3 exercises{土曜日|どようび}はホテルが（ ）{日|ひ}です。
We use the dictionary form of the {い}-adjective to modify the noun '{日|ひ}'.
Choose the correct translation.
'{避|さ}ける' means to avoid.
A: {航空券|こうくうけん}、いくらだった？ B: 10{万|まん}えん。すごく（ ）だったよ。
The context of a specific price for a ticket makes '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}' the most natural fit.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is neutral and perfectly fine to use with strangers or in shops.
No, '{高|たか}い' only refers to height or price, not emotional weight.
The opposite is '{安|やす}い{日|ひ}' (cheap day).
Use '{一番|いちばん}{高|たか}い{日|ひ}'.
In casual business talk, yes. In formal reports, use '{繁忙期|はんぼうき}'.
Yes, that is very common when talking about utility bills.
No, for a long day use '{長|なが}い{一日|いちにち}'.
Red usually signifies Sundays or holidays in Japan, which are naturally '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}'.
Yes, it's perfect for concert or movie tickets.
Young people might say '{高|たか}い{日|ひ}すぎてぴえん' (It's such an expensive day, I'm crying).
Related Phrases
{安|やす}い{日|ひ}
contrastCheap day
{繁忙期|はんぼうき}
specialized formBusy season
{給料日|きゅうりょうび}
similarPayday
{特売日|とくばいび}
contrastSpecial sale day
