高低

gāodī

高低 — gāodī

1. height; level; elevation

   这台机器的安装高度要调整一下，高低要一致。 zhè tái jīqì de ānzhuāng gāodù yào tiáozhěng yīxià gāodī yào yízhì — The installation height of this machine needs adjusting; the levels must be consistent.

2. (music) pitch; tonal level

   她唱歌高低不稳，应该多练气息控制。 tā chànggē gāodī bùwěn yīnggāi duō liàn qìxī kòngzhì — Her pitch is unstable when singing; she should practice breath control.

3. relative superiority/inferiority; who's better or worse; comparison of status

   比赛结束后，双方的高低就能见分晓。 bǐsài jiéshù hòu shuāngfāng de gāodī jiù néng jiànfēnxiǎo — After the match ends, the relative strengths of the two sides will be revealed.

4. propriety; knowing one's place; discretion (often used in the negative, e.g. 不知高低 'not know one's place')

   他居然当众指责老板，真是不知高低。 tā jūrán dāngzhòng zhǐzé lǎobǎn zhēnshì bùzhīgāodī — He actually criticized the boss in public—truly doesn't know his place.

5. no matter what / simply / at long last (used in fixed expressions to indicate concession or eventual result)

   不管他怎么说，最后高低都要自己承担。 bùguǎn tā zěnme shuō zuìhòu gāodī dōu yào zìjǐ chéngdān — No matter what he says, in the end you'll have to bear the consequences yourself.