高高挂起 (gāo gāo guà qǐ) — (idiom) to completely ignore or disregard (especially when something doesn't concern oneself)

Definition

A set phrase meaning to deliberately ignore something that doesn't affect you personally (often trouble or responsibility). Used as a verb phrase, often with 对 or the topic in context, as in 对…高高挂起.

idiom
to completely ignore or disregard (especially when something doesn't concern oneself)

Examples

  • 高高挂起，。
    Tā duì bié rén de kùn nan zǒng shì gāo gāo guà qǐ, háo bù guān xīn.
    He always completely ignores others' difficulties and doesn't care at all.
  • 高高挂起，。
    Zhè zhǒng gāo gāo guà qǐ de tài dù, duì tuán duì hé zuò fēi cháng bú lì.
    This attitude of ignoring everything is very harmful to teamwork.
  • 高高挂起，。
    Yù dào wèn tí bù néng gāo gāo guà qǐ, yào jī jí jiě jué.
    When encountering problems, you can't just ignore them; you must actively solve them.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 掛; 挂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺘Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
卦
卦guà掛guà
Same sound today

In the traditional form 掛, the hand part ⺘ and the sound part 卦 show hooking or hanging something with the hand; this form was originally a popular form of 挂.

Open 挂 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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