背
stature · height · back · behind · disobey · defy · go back on · rebel
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
北 + moon
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of north and flesh. Flesh of north.
Symbolism
Back, background, behind. Represents back.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
中肉中背
ちゅうにくちゅうぜい
medium build; medium build
二律背反
にりつはいはん
antinomy; self-contradiction; either-or situation; antinomy
面従腹背
めんじゅうふくはい
pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone); pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone)
面向不背
めんこうふはい
flawless; flawless
眼光紙背
がんこうしはい
reading between the lines; 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
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?
Yes. 背 (stature, height, back, behind, disobey, defy, go back on, rebel) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for stature · kanji for height · kanji for back · kanji for behind · kanji for defy · kanji for rebel