How to say "height" in Japanese

• 背せいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers a person's height or stature — how tall someone stands. It is the natural word in talk about being tall or short, rather than quoting an exact measurement.
• 身長しんちょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe height of a person as a measured quantity, e.g. in centimeters; used when stating, asking about or recording how tall someone is, as on forms or in medical settings.
  息子むすこはもう私と同おなじ身長しんちょうだ。↗

  My son is now as tall as I am.
• 丈たけJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA broad word for height, covering a person's stature or the height of a plant; it is seldom the word you want for simply saying how tall someone is.
• 縦たてJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounNames the vertical dimension of an object or figure — the 'height' of a rectangle or page — as opposed to its horizontal dimension; it has nothing to do with how tall a person is.
• 高度こうどJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounHeight as altitude or elevation — how high something is above the ground or sea level, as with aircraft or mountains; it is not used for a person's height.
  これより次第しだいに高度こうどを下さげてまいります。↗

  We are beginning our descent.

For a person's height choose 身長 for the measured figure or 背 for stature; 丈 is a broader height word, 縦 the vertical dimension of an object, and 高度 altitude or elevation.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 背せいheight
• 身長しんちょうheight (of a person)
• 丈たけheight
• 縦たてthe vertical
• 高度こうどaltitude
• 盛りさかりheight (e.g. of summer)
• 極みきわみheight
• 高みたかみheight
• おかhill
• 高所こうしょhigh place
• 高さたかさheight
• 背丈せたけstature
• 極致きょくちculmination
• 上背うわぜいstature
• 真っ最中まっさいちゅうright in the middle (of)
• ハイトheight
• 骨頂こっちょうheight
• 体高たいこうheight (measured at the withers)
• たけなわheight (of summer, party, etc.)
• たっぱheight (of a building, etc.)
• 背の高させのたかさheight (e.g. in a form)
• 縦幅たてはばvertical length
• 背格好せいかっこうstature
• 背せheight
• 春はるprime (of life)
• 本番ほんばんhigh of the season
• 絶頂ぜっちょうpeak
• 只中ただなかmidst (e.g. of a storm)
• 真っ只中まっただなかmidst (e.g. of a storm)
• 本チャンほんチャンhigh of the season
• 極きょくclimax
• 頂点ちょうてんpeak (of popularity, a boom, etc.)