JLPT N3 · 9 strokes
Kanji 背: "stature, height, back"
The kanji 背 means "stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read ハイ in on'yomi and せ, せい, そむ.く, そむ.ける in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ハイ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
せせいそむ.くそむ.ける
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 6 |
| Frequency rank | 696 of 2,501 |
Common words with 背
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 背中back (of the body)
- 背後arrière, dos, derrière soi · en coulisses, dans l'ombre
- 背back · reverse; rear side; back (e.g. of a chair); spine (of a book)
- 背負うto carry on one's back · to be burdened with; to take responsibility for
- 背景background; scenery; backdrop; setting · background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; context
- 背を向けるtourner le dos à, ignorer délibérément
- 背筋colonne vertébrale, ligne du dos · couture dorsale (vêtement)
- 背の高いtall (of a person)
- 背中を押すto push someone (towards); to encourage someone
- 背伸びstanding on tiptoe and stretching one's back to make oneself taller; stretching oneself · overreaching oneself; overstretching oneself; trying to do something beyond one's ability; pushing to the limit
- 背が高いtall (of a person)
- 顔を背けるto turn one's face away
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