大きい and 高い: big, tall or expensive?

The idea

Use 大きい for a large box or dog, 高い for a high mountain or an expensive watch. For a tall person, 背が高い is natural. Both are い-adjectives; 大きくて高い connects “large and tall”.

Examples

• この箱はこは大おおきいですよ。This box is big.
• あの山やまは高たかいですね。That mountain is high, isn’t it?
• この時計とけいは高たかいですよ。This watch is expensive.
• 大おおきい犬いぬが公園こうえんにいます。There is a big dog in the park.
• 兄あには背せが高たかいです。My older brother is tall.
• あの建物たてものは大おおきくて高たかいです。That building is large and tall.

Watch out

The same building can be both 大きい and 高い: the words describe different dimensions. 高い with a price is “expensive”, not necessarily physically tall.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form: This box is big. この箱はこは＿＿です。（大おおきい／高たかい）

   Show answer or example answer

   大きい

   The intended meaning is overall size, so 大きい fits.

2. Choose the correct form: That mountain is high, isn’t it? あの山やまは＿＿ですね。（大おおきい／高たかい）

   Show answer or example answer

   高い

   The question asks about the mountain’s height, so 高い fits.

3. Choose the correct form: This watch is expensive. この時計とけいは＿＿ですよ。（大おおきい／高たかい）

   Show answer or example answer

   高い

   The intended meaning is a high price, so 高い means “expensive”.

Use it today

Describe a large object, a tall person and an expensive item, then describe a building using both adjectives.