What does 高 mean in Chinese?

高 (gāo) means "high; tall; above average; loud; your (honorific)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 高?

高 is pronounced "gāo" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 高?

高 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 高?

Common words with 高 include 上高 (Shanggao county in Yichun 宜春, Jiangxi), 偏高 (to be on the high side), 凡高 (Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), Dutch post-Impressionist painter), 上高县 (Shanggao county in Yichun 宜春, Jiangxi), 使高贵 (to dignify).

How do you write 高?

高 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 高. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

高 (gāo), high

高

gāo

high; tall; above average; loud

HSK 210 strokes

Character Breakdown

高 = 亠 + 口 + 冂 + 口

A tall pavilion with an open gate — high

Radical: 高 (no. 189)Strokes: 10

View stroke order →

Definitions

high
tall
above average
loud
your (honorific)

Example Sentences

很高的山。

Hěn gāo de shān

A very tall mountain

Words Containing 高

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
上高	Shàng gāo	Shanggao county in Yichun 宜春, Jiangxi
偏高	piān gāo	to be on the high side
凡高	Fán Gāo	Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), Dutch post-Impressionist painter
上高县	Shàng gāo xiàn	Shanggao county in Yichun 宜春, Jiangxi
使高贵	shǐ gāo guì	to dignify

→

你走你的阳关道，我过我的独木桥(nǐ zǒu nǐ de Yáng guān Dào , wǒ guò wǒ de dú mù qiáo)· lit. you hit the high road, I'll cross the log bridge (idiom)

→

卿(qīng)· high ranking official (old)

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参天(cān tiān)· reach high to the sky

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Grammar Notes

Negation with 不HSK 1

Subject + 不 + Verb / Adjective

Adjectives with 很HSK 1

Subject + 很 + Adjective

Comparison with 比HSK 2

A 比 B + Adjective (+ Specific Amount)

More and More (越来越)HSK 2

Subject + 越来越 + Adjective/Verb + 了

Same As (跟...一样)HSK 2

A 跟/和 B 一样 (+ Adjective)

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

高: HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 高 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

高