Kanji N3

背: stature, height, back

背 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning stature, height, back, written with 9 strokes. It is read ハイ (on) and せ, せい, そむく (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 6. You will see it in 背中 (せなか, back) and 背 (せい, height).

背

Meanings

  • stature
  • height
  • back
  • behind
  • disobey
  • defy
  • go back on
  • rebel
Strokes9
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 6
Frequency#696 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ハイ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • せ
  • せい
  • そむく
  • そむける

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

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Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 9. Start at the dot.

Common words with 背

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 背中せなか

    back (of the body)

    JLPT N4
  • 背せい

    height; stature

    JLPT N3
  • 背広せびろ

    business suit

    JLPT N5
  • 背景はいけい

    background; scenery; backdrop; setting

    JLPT N1
  • 背後はいご

    back; rear

    JLPT N1
  • 背くそむく

    to run counter to; to go against; to disobey

    JLPT N1
  • 背負うせおう

    to carry on one's back

    JLPT N2
  • 背任はいにん

    breach of trust; malfeasance; malpractice

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.