1.
proud; haughty; having high self-regard; holding oneself above others
Describes a person who maintains a strong sense of dignity and self-importance, often to the point of looking down on others or being difficult to approach.
彼女は気位が高い。
She is proud and haughty.
気位が高くて近寄りがたい人だ。
He's a proud person who's hard to approach.
あの猫は気位が高くて、自分から甘えてくることはない。
That cat is too proud to come and be affectionate on its own.
A set expression where 気位 means "one's sense of personal dignity or pride" and 高い means "high." It carries a somewhat negative nuance, implying that the person considers themselves above others. However, it can also describe an admirable sense of self-respect in certain contexts. Frequently used to describe cats and their aloof nature.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 気位が高い人: a proud/haughty person
- 気位が高い猫: a proud cat
- 気位が高くて: being proud and...
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 高飛車: overbearing; high-handed — more clearly negative
- プライドが高い: having high pride — the modern equivalent using the English loanword
- 誇り高い: proud; having pride — more positive, suggesting dignified pride
- 気高い: noble; lofty — a positive word for dignified character