高圧(こうあつ)

こうあつ
noun
high pressure; high voltage; coercion
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)

CONTRAST:

  • 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
21000/21094_kouatsu