背
背·back, height
- On-yomi
- ハイ
- Kun-yomi
- せせいそむく
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 背中 | せなか | the back (of the body) |
| 背が高い | せがたかい | to be tall |
| 背景 | はいけい | background |
| 背広 | せびろ | a business suit |
Example sentences
兄は背が高いです。
あにはせがたかいです。
My older brother is tall.
一日中座っていたので背中が痛い。
いちにちじゅうすわっていたのでせなかがいたい。
I sat all day, so my back hurts.
この事件の背景を詳しく調べています。
このじけんのはいけいをくわしくしらべています。
We are investigating the background to this incident in detail.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Saying 高い人 for a tall person — the natural phrase is 背が高い人
- Reading 背景 as *せけい; it is はいけい
Memory aid
Picture it
北 (two people back to back) sitting on the flesh radical 月 — that is the human back.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 背骨せぼねspine, backbone
- 背せheight, back
- 背広せびろbusiness suit
- 背中せなかback (of body)
- 背負うせおうto carry on one's back, to be burdened with
- 二律背反にりつはいはんantinomy, contradiction
- 背くそむくto go against, to disobey
- 背景はいけいbackground; scenery; setting; circumstances behind something
- 背後はいごthe back; the rear; behind (someone); the background (of an affair)
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 背 mean?