A fancy ___：”kōkyū” Japanese Phrase #280

Yuka

Want to talk about luxury goods, fancy restaurants, or high-end products in Japanese? 高級 is your word!

What Does 高級 Mean?

高級 (koukyuu) means “high class,” “luxury,” or “high grade.” It’s a na-adjective (used with な before a noun) that describes quality, refinement, and prestige — not just price:

• 高級レストランに行った。 — I went to a fancy restaurant.
• これは高級な素材を使っています。 — This uses high-grade materials.
• 高級車が欲しい。 — I want a luxury car.

Common 高級 Combinations

Rei

Is 高い and 高級 the same?

Yuka

Not exactly! 高い means expensive or tall. 高級 means high-class — something can be 高い without being 高級, and vice versa.

Opposite: 低価格 and 庶民的

The opposite of 高級 in tone:

• 庶民的 (shomin teki) — down-to-earth / affordable / everyday
• リーズナブル (riizunaburu) — reasonable / affordable
• お手頃 (otegoro) — reasonably priced / accessible

Quick Quiz

How would you say “a high-end apartment”?

Answer: 高級マンション

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