A2 adjective #300 most common 2 min read

높은

The word '높은' describes something that is tall or has a large amount.

nopeun
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 높은 to say something is tall. For example, a 높은 빌딩 is a tall building. It is a very useful word for beginners!

At this level, you start using 높은 for numbers and abstract things. You might say 높은 온도 for high temperature or 높은 점수 for a high test score.

Intermediate learners use 높은 to describe social status or abstract concepts. You might hear someone talk about 높은 지위 (high position) in a company or 높은 기대 (high expectations).

At the B2 level, you understand the nuance of 높은 in metaphorical contexts. It is used to describe barriers, standards, and intensity in professional or academic writing.

Advanced users employ 높은 to discuss complex sociological or economic trends. It appears in formal reports to describe 높은 인플레이션 (high inflation) or 높은 상관관계 (high correlation).

Mastery involves using 높은 in literary or philosophical contexts. It can describe the 'height' of one's spirit or the 'high' nature of a moral standard, showing deep command of the language's descriptive power.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means high or tall.
  • Used for objects and abstract concepts.
  • Native Korean word.
  • Antonym is '낮은'.

When you hear 높은, think of reaching towards the sky! It is the most common way to say 'high' or 'tall' in Korean. Whether you are talking about a 높은 산 (high mountain) or a 높은 점수 (high score), this word covers both physical and abstract height.

It is a very flexible word. You will use it constantly in daily life. Just remember that it describes the state of being high, so it always modifies a noun that follows it.

The word 높은 stems from the pure Korean root 높-. Unlike many Korean words that come from Chinese characters (Hanja), this is a native Korean term that has been used for centuries.

Historically, it evolved from older variations in Middle Korean. It is a foundational word that reflects the mountainous geography of the Korean peninsula, where describing the height of land was essential for survival and navigation.

You use 높은 whenever you need to quantify something as 'above average' or 'physically elevated'. It is used in both formal and casual settings.

Common pairings include 높은 하늘 (high sky) for nature and 높은 가격 (high price) for economics. It is a neutral term, meaning it doesn't sound too stiff or too slangy; it is perfect for everyday conversation.

1. 높은 사람: Literally 'high person', meaning a person of high rank or authority. 2. 높은 곳을 보다: To look at high places, meaning to have high ambitions. 3. 눈이 높다: To have high standards (lit. eyes are high). 4. 높은 벽: A high wall, used metaphorically to describe a difficult obstacle. 5. 높은 수위: A high level or high standard of something.

높은 is an adjective that modifies nouns directly. In Korean grammar, you don't need 'is' or 'are' when using this; you just place it before the noun. For example, 'A high building' is simply '높은 건물'.

Pronunciation is straightforward: 'no-peun'. The 'p' sound is soft, and the 'eun' ending is a standard noun-modifying suffix. It rhymes with words like '슬픈' (sad) in its grammatical structure.

Fun Fact

It is one of the few words that has kept its basic form for centuries.

Pronunciation Guide

UK no-peun

no like 'no', peun like 'pun'

US no-peun

no-peun

Common Errors

  • Pronouncing 'p' as 'b'
  • Dropping the 'n' sound
  • Misplacing stress

Rhymes With

슬픈 (sad) 기쁜 (happy) 바쁜 (busy) 예쁜 (pretty) 나쁜 (bad)

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Easy

Writing 1/5

Easy

Speaking 1/5

Easy

Listening 1/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

산 건물 점수

Learn Next

낮은 높이다 높이

Advanced

고도 고상한

Grammar to Know

Adjective modification

높은 + Noun

Noun predicate

산이 높다

Examples by Level

1

저것은 높은 산입니다.

That is a high mountain.

Simple declarative sentence.

2

높은 빌딩이 많아요.

There are many high buildings.

Existential sentence.

3

높은 곳은 무서워요.

High places are scary.

Adjective usage.

4

높은 나무를 보세요.

Look at the high tree.

Imperative.

5

높은 하늘이 파래요.

The high sky is blue.

Descriptive.

6

여기는 높은 층이에요.

This is a high floor.

Noun modification.

7

높은 의자에 앉아요.

Sit on the high chair.

Action verb.

8

높은 파도가 쳐요.

High waves are crashing.

Natural phenomenon.

1

높은 점수를 받았어요.

2

높은 온도가 지속됩니다.

3

높은 곳에 물건을 두세요.

4

높은 경쟁률을 뚫었습니다.

5

높은 벽을 넘었어요.

6

높은 신발을 신었습니다.

7

높은 연봉을 원해요.

8

높은 확률로 가능합니다.

1

높은 기준을 세우는 것이 중요합니다.

2

높은 지위에 있는 사람입니다.

3

높은 수준의 교육을 받았습니다.

4

높은 생산성을 유지합니다.

5

높은 위험을 감수해야 합니다.

6

높은 관심을 받고 있습니다.

7

높은 효율을 자랑합니다.

8

높은 평가를 받았습니다.

1

높은 지적 능력을 갖추고 있습니다.

2

높은 도덕적 가치를 지향합니다.

3

높은 압력을 견뎌야 합니다.

4

높은 비중을 차지하고 있습니다.

5

높은 가능성을 염두에 두세요.

6

높은 통찰력을 보여주었습니다.

7

높은 강도의 훈련입니다.

8

높은 전문성을 요구합니다.

1

높은 상관관계를 나타내는 데이터입니다.

2

높은 자부심을 느끼고 있습니다.

3

높은 위상을 떨치고 있습니다.

4

높은 긴장감이 감돌고 있습니다.

5

높은 기대를 충족시켰습니다.

6

높은 사회적 지위를 얻었습니다.

7

높은 밀도를 가진 물질입니다.

8

높은 가치를 인정받았습니다.

1

높은 경지에 도달한 예술가입니다.

2

높은 이상을 품고 살았습니다.

3

높은 안목으로 작품을 골랐습니다.

4

높은 수위의 비판을 받았습니다.

5

높은 정신적 가치를 추구합니다.

6

높은 품격을 유지하고 있습니다.

7

높은 식견을 가진 학자입니다.

8

높은 차원의 논의가 필요합니다.

Common Collocations

높은 산
높은 점수
높은 가격
높은 하늘
높은 기대
높은 건물
높은 온도
높은 지위
높은 확률
높은 수준

Idioms & Expressions

"눈이 높다"

To have high standards

그는 눈이 높아서 아무나 안 만나요.

casual

"콧대가 높다"

To be arrogant/haughty

그 사람은 콧대가 너무 높아요.

casual

"높은 곳을 보다"

To have high ambitions

항상 높은 곳을 보고 노력하세요.

neutral

"높은 벽에 부딪히다"

To face a difficult obstacle

현실이라는 높은 벽에 부딪혔습니다.

neutral

"높은 수위를 유지하다"

To maintain a high level

높은 수위를 유지하는 것이 관건입니다.

formal

"높은 자리에 앉다"

To hold a position of power

그는 드디어 높은 자리에 앉았습니다.

neutral

Easily Confused

높은 vs 큰

Both mean 'big/high'.

큰 is size, 높은 is height.

큰 산 vs 높은 산

높은 vs 긴

Both relate to dimensions.

긴 is length, 높은 is height.

긴 줄 vs 높은 건물

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + 는/은 + 높은 + Noun + 이다

이 건물은 높은 빌딩이다.

A2

높은 + Noun + 을/를 + Verb

높은 점수를 받았다.

A2

높은 + Noun + 이/가 + Verb

높은 산이 보인다.

B1

높은 + Noun + 에 + Verb

높은 곳에 두세요.

B1

높은 + Noun + 의 + Noun

높은 산의 정상입니다.

Word Family

Nouns

높이 height

Verbs

높이다 to raise/increase

Adjectives

높다 to be high

Related

낮은 antonym

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

높은 사람을 쓰다 (for tall person) → 키가 큰 사람
높은 refers to rank/height of objects, not human height.
높은 소리 → 높은 음
For music, '음' (pitch) is more natural.
높은 가격을 내다 → 비싼 가격을 내다
While '높은 가격' is okay, '비싼' (expensive) is more common.
높은 온도에 있다 → 온도가 높다
Adjective predicate structure is preferred.
높은 기분을 느끼다 → 기분이 좋다
You cannot use '높은' for mood.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a giant ladder in your house.

💡

Native Usage

Use it for anything that goes up.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Mountains are very important in Korea.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

No 'is' needed!

💡

Say It Right

Keep the 'p' soft.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it for human height.

💡

Did You Know?

It is a native Korean word.

💡

Study Smart

Learn it with '낮은'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'No-peun' (No-pen) flying high in the sky.

Visual Association

A mountain peak reaching the clouds.

Word Web

Mountain Building Score Standard

Challenge

Describe 3 things in your room using '높은'.

Word Origin

Native Korean

Original meaning: Vertical distance

Cultural Context

None

Directly equivalent to 'high' or 'tall'.

Used in many Korean pop song lyrics about dreams.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At school

  • 높은 점수
  • 높은 수준
  • 높은 목표

In the city

  • 높은 건물
  • 높은 빌딩
  • 높은 층

Nature

  • 높은 산
  • 높은 하늘
  • 높은 파도

Business

  • 높은 가격
  • 높은 지위
  • 높은 효율

Conversation Starters

"What is the highest mountain you've climbed?"

"Do you have high standards for food?"

"Do you like living in high buildings?"

"What is a high goal you have?"

"Why do people like high places?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a high place you visited.

What are your high expectations for this year?

Write about a tall building in your city.

How do you feel when you are in a high place?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, use '키가 큰' for physical height.

'높은' is vertical height; '큰' is overall size.

Use '높이다' (to raise).

It is neutral and used everywhere.

No, Korean adjectives don't have plurals.

Yes, '높은 가격' is correct.

'낮은' (low).

No, it is very simple.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

저 산은 ___ 산입니다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 높은

Mountains are typically described as high.

multiple choice A2

Which is correct?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 높은 건물 (high building)

Only '높은 건물' is natural.

true false B1

Can '높은' describe a person's height?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

We use '키가 큰' for people.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matching noun phrases.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Correct structure is subject + noun + location + verb.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

高的 Chinese
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