gou1 dei6高地

Jyutpinggou1 dei6

Yalegōu deih

名詞Uncommon

Definition

Highland or high ground; also a commanding position or moral high ground.

highland; high ground; elevated land
figurativea commanding position or attitude, especially a moral high ground

colloquialplacespeople

How it's used

The term is heavily used in political and social discourse to describe someone who adopts a superior, detached, or self-righteous stance during an argument. It functions as a critique of performative virtue, implying the person is not actually engaging with the practical realities of the situation. While it can refer to literal geography, its metaphorical use regarding moral superiority is far more common in daily conversation.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日kei5企喺hai2道dou6德dak1高gou1地dei6批pai1評ping4人，jan4好hou2乞hat1人jan4憎。

He always stands on the moral high ground to criticize others, it's so annoying.

nei1呢dou6度hai6係gou1高dei6地，zau6就syun3算lok6落daai6大jyu5雨dou1都m4唔paa3怕seoi2水zam3浸。

This is high ground, so there's no fear of flooding even if it rains heavily.

Common phrases

dou6道dak1德gou1高dei6地

moral high ground

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the English concept of a high ground in a tactical sense, as the Cantonese usage is almost exclusively focused on the moral or social posturing of an individual.