Chinese idiom · 成语
居高临下
Meaning
Perched high, looking down; commanding advantage.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary usageA related formulation occurs in the Huainanzi's Yuan Dao Xun: ascending high and looking down should not make a person abandon what they hold to. The surrounding discussion concerns remaining grounded in the Way through changing circumstances.
The exact form 居高臨下 is documented in the Continued Comprehensive Mirror's account of 1141, where an enemy's higher position makes the battlefield unfavorable. From such physical advantage, the expression also developed a social meaning: speaking or behaving as though one stands above another person. Thus it may neutrally describe elevation or criticize a condescending attitude.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
他解释问题时总是居高临下，让人不愿意继续问。
He always explains things so condescendingly that people don't want to ask any more questions.
Can describe actual high ground or, figuratively, a patronizing manner.