“Expensive” in Japanese is 高い (たかい), pronounced takai.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Expensive, and also tall or high. Context decides: 高い山 is a high mountain.
Example sentences
- このかばんは高いです。このかばんはたかいです。This bag is expensive.
- 兄は背が高いです。あにはせがたかいです。My older brother is tall.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 高い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 高い たかい | expensive |
| Polite present | 高いです たかいです | is expensive |
| Negative | 高くないです たかくないです | isn’t expensive |
| Past | 高かったです たかかったです | was expensive |
| Past negative | 高くなかったです たかくなかったです | wasn’t expensive |
| て-form | 高くて たかくて | expensive and… |
| Adverb (く) | 高く たかく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
What does {{高い}} mean?
How do you read {{高い}}?
Which word means “interesting”?
Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say expensive in Japanese?
Expensive in Japanese is 高い (たかい), pronounced “takai”.
How do you write expensive in Japanese?
It's written 高い with kanji, or たかい in hiragana. Both are read takai.
Is 高い on the JLPT?
Yes. 高い (takai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.