1.
slightly elevated, on a small hill
Describes terrain that is gently raised or on a modest hill. Used almost exclusively to describe geographical features like hills, mounds, or elevated ground.
小高い丘に登る。
To climb a small hill.
神社は小高い場所に建っている。
The shrine stands on a slightly elevated spot.
小高い丘の上から町を見下ろすと、赤い屋根が並んでいるのが見えた。
Looking down at the town from the top of a small hill, I could see rows of red roofs.
STRUCTURE:
小 (small, slightly) + 高い (high, elevated). The prefix 小 softens the meaning to indicate something only modestly elevated.
USAGE:
小高い is almost always paired with 丘 (hill) or similar terrain words. It describes a gentle rise in the landscape rather than a steep or dramatic elevation. It frequently appears in literary and descriptive writing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 小高い丘: a small hill
- 小高い場所: a slightly elevated place
- 小高い土地: slightly raised land