背
stature · height · back · behind · disobey · defy · go back on · rebel
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of north and flesh. Flesh of north.
Symbolism
Back, background, behind. Represents back.
Component Breakdown
北 + moon
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
中肉中背
ちゅうにくちゅうぜい
medium build
二律背反
にりつはいはん
antinomy; self-contradiction; either-or situation
面従腹背
めんじゅうふくはい
pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone)
面向不背
めんこうふはい
flawless
眼光紙背
がんこうしはい
reading between the lines
Proverbs & Idioms
背に腹は代えられぬ
せにはらはかえられぬ
You can't swap the back for the belly
Sometimes you have no choice
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 背 mean in Japanese?
背 means stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy, go back on, rebel.
How do you read 背?
On'yomi: ハイ (HAI). Kun'yomi: せ、せい、そむ.く、そむ.ける (se, sei, somuku, somukeru).
How many strokes does 背 have?
背 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 肉 (meat).
Is 背 a good kanji for a tattoo?
背 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy, go back on, rebel. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:stature · height · back · behind · defy · rebel