高 圧(こうあつ)

こうあつ

noun

high pressure; high voltage; coercion

nature society

1. high pressure; high voltage

Physically elevated pressure or electrical voltage. Used in scientific, industrial, and weather contexts.

高圧(こうあつ)ガスに注意(ちゅうい)。

Caution: high-pressure gas.

高圧(こうあつ)電線(でんせん)には近(ちか)づかないでください。

Please do not approach the high-voltage power lines.

台風(たいふう)が去(さ)った後(あと)、高圧(こうあつ)が張(は)り出(だ)してきた。

After the typhoon passed, a high-pressure system moved in.

2. coercion; overbearing pressure; high-handedness

An overbearing, forceful, or intimidating manner of dealing with people. Describes someone who uses their authority or personality to dominate others.

高圧的(こうあつてき)な態度(たいど)はやめてほしい。

I wish you would stop being so overbearing.

上司(じょうし)が高圧的(こうあつてき)で話(はな)しにくい。

My boss is so domineering that it's hard to talk to him.

高圧的(こうあつてき)な営業(えいぎょう)トークに押(お)されて、契約(けいやく)してしまった。

I was pressured by their aggressive sales pitch and ended up signing the contract.

Has both a physical/technical meaning (high pressure, high voltage) and a figurative meaning (overbearing, coercive). The figurative sense is most commonly expressed with the derived adjective 高圧的(こうあつてき).

Common collocations

高圧(こうあつ)電線(でんせん): high-voltage power lines
高圧(こうあつ)ガス: high-pressure gas
高圧的(こうあつてき): overbearing, high-handed (na-adjective)
高圧的(こうあつてき)な態度(たいど): overbearing attitude
高気圧(こうきあつ): high atmospheric pressure (weather term)

Similar words

高圧(こうあつ) (high pressure) ↔ 低圧(ていあつ) (low pressure)
高圧的(こうあつてき) (overbearing) ↔ 低姿勢(ていしせい) (humble, modest)

Etymology

高(こう) (high) + 圧(あつ) (pressure).

general

Added 2026.4.1 2:16 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

21000/21094_kouatsu