Translation guide
The English word "height" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese, including physical tallness, altitude, peak periods, and figurative extremes. The most common Japanese equivalents are 高さ (takasa) for measurable height and 身長 (shinchō) for human height.
その山の高さは3,776メートルです。
The height of the mountain is 3,776 meters.
Use 高さ (takasa) for general measurable height.
Referring to how tall a person is.
The standard word for human height. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
身長は170センチです。
My height is 170 cm.
身長を測ってください。
Please measure my height.
Literally 'back' or 'stature', used in compounds like 背が高い (tall) or 背の順 (order by height). Not used alone for 'height'.
彼は背が高い。
He is tall.
Refers to upper body height or stature, sometimes used in clothing or formal descriptions.
上背のある男性。
A man of tall stature.
Referring to how high something is, like a building, mountain, or shelf.
The most common word for height as a measurable dimension. Works for objects, buildings, mountains, etc.
この机の高さは70センチです。
The height of this desk is 70 cm.
富士山の高さは3,776メートルです。
The height of Mt. Fuji is 3,776 meters.
Used for altitude, especially in aviation, geography, or technical contexts. Not for everyday object height.
Elevation above sea level, used for mountains and land. Common in geography.
Referring to the height of summer, a career, a crisis, etc.
Means 'in the midst of' or 'at the height of'. Used for ongoing events or periods.
夏の真っ最中です。
It's the height of summer.
彼は今、人生の真っ最中だ。
He is now at the height of his life.
Attached to nouns to mean 'the height of' or 'peak of'. Often used with seasons or life stages.
Literally 'summit' or 'peak', used for the height of power, fame, or pleasure. Somewhat literary.
Referring to the height of stupidity, fashion, etc.
Means 'the height of' or 'the ultimate in'. Often used in set phrases.
それは無礼の極みだ。
That is the height of rudeness.
Literally 'nothing above this', meaning 'the utmost' or 'the height of'. Used with adjectives or nouns.
この上ない幸せです。
This is the height of happiness.
高さ (takasa) is the general term for height of objects, while 身長 (shinchō) is specifically for human height. Using 高さ for a person sounds unnatural.
彼の身長は180センチです。
His height is 180 cm.
このビルの高さは200メートルです。
The height of this building is 200 meters.
While 高さ means 'height', it is not used for human height. Always use 身長 for people.
The plane is flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
この山の標高は2,000メートルです。
The elevation of this mountain is 2,000 meters.
Now is the height of the flowers' bloom.
彼は権力の絶頂にあった。
He was at the height of his power.