Kanji

背

stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy, go back on, rebel

Kanji

Grade

Grade 6

Strokes

9 strokes

Radical

肉部

On'yomi (Chinese Reading)

ハイ

Kun'yomi (Japanese Reading)

せ, せい, そむく, そむける

Nanori (Name Reading)

しろ, せ, のり

Common Readings

ハイ, せ, せい, そむ…く, そむ…ける

Example sentences

背中 せなか
彼は励ますために私の背中を叩いた。

He patted me on the back to encourage me.

さする さする
母の背中を優しくさすってあげた。

I gently rubbed my mother's back.

背後 はいご
事件の背後には、巨大な組織の影がありました。

Behind the incident, there was the shadow of a giant organization.

潜む ひそむ
その問題の背後には、重大な危険が潜んでいる。

Behind that problem, a serious danger lurks.

背 せ
弟は私より背が高い

My younger brother is taller than me.

男 おとこ
その男は背が高い

That man is tall.

背負う せおう
彼は重いリュックを背負っている。

He is carrying a heavy backpack.

リュック リュック
彼は重いリュックを背負って山を登った。

He climbed the mountain carrying a heavy backpack.

背を向ける せをむける
彼はかつての仲間に背を向けて、一人で歩き出した。

He turned his back on his former comrades and started walking alone.

背筋 せすじ
彼女は背筋をピンと伸ばして座っている。

She is sitting with her back straight.

Example Vocabulary

背中

せなか

back (of the body); rear

背後

はいご

back; rear; background

背

せ

back (of the body); height; stature

背負う

せおう

to carry on one's back; to shoulder (responsibility, burden)

背を向ける

せをむける

to turn one's back on; to be indifferent to; to ignore

背筋

せすじ

spine, line of the back

背景

はいけい

background, context

背中を押す

せなかをおす

to encourage; to give a push; to help someone make a decision

背の高い

せのたかい

tall (person/object)

顔を背ける

かおをそむける

to turn one's face away; to look away

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