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背
“back / stature” in Japanese is 背, read hai, se, sei (はい, せ, せい, そむ). It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 背中 (the back).
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What does 背 mean?
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兄は背が高い。
あにはせがたかい。My older brother is tall.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 背 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | back / stature |
| Readings | はい, せ, せい, そむ |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 背中 (the back) |
How to read 背
背 is read hai (はい) or se (せ) or sei (せい) or somu (そむ) depending on the word.
Words with 背
- 背中
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Updated: 2026-08-28