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背

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: 揹
背 U+80CC, 背
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-80CC
← 胋
[U+80CB] 		CJK Unified Ideographs 胍 →
[U+80CD]

Translingual

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Stroke order
9 strokes
Stroke order

Han character

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背 (Kangxi radical 130, 肉+5, 9 strokes, Cangjie input 中心月 (LPB), four-corner 11227, composition ⿱北月(GJK) or ⿱北⺼(HT))

Derived characters

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References

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  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 977, character 21
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 29363
  • Dae Jaweon: page 1429, character 11
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2058, character 4
  • Unihan data for U+80CC

Chinese

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Glyph origin

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Historical forms of the character 背
Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Small seal script
Characters in the same phonetic series (北) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 
Old Chinese
背 *pɯːɡs, *bɯːɡs
鄁 *bɯːɡs
偝 *bɯːɡs
邶 *bɯːɡs
苝 *bɯːɡs
北 *pɯːɡ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *pɯːɡs, *bɯːɡs): phonetic 北 (OC *pɯːɡ) + semantic 月 (“meat”). Originally written as 北, semantic 肉 was added to be distinguished from the derived meaning of 北 (“north”).

Etymology

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From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bə(q) (“to carry (on back), shoulder”). According to Schuessler (2007), it is the exopassive of 北 (OC *pɯːɡ, “to turn one's back”) — what is turned back.

Two pronunciations were distinguished in Middle Chinese: puʌiH (“back”), buʌiH (“to turn one's back to; to betray”).

Pronunciation 1

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trad. 背
simp. # 背
Note:
  • bui3 - “back; to betray; to violate”;
  • bui6 - “to recite; unlucky; remote; out of touch; hard of hearing”.
Note:
  • buei4 - “back”;
  • buei5 - “to recite”.
Note:
  • pōe - literary;
  • pēr/pē - vernacular.
Note: bu3 - alternative pronunciation when meaning "backside" (e.g. 手背, 刀背).
Note:
  • 2pe - noun (“back”);
  • 3be - verb (“to betray; to recite”).
Rime
Character 背 背
Reading # 1/2 2/2
Initial (聲) 並 (3) 幫 (1)
Final (韻) 灰 (42) 灰 (42)
Tone (調) Departing (H) Departing (H)
Openness (開合) Closed Closed
Division (等) I I
Fanqie 蒲昧切 補妹切
Baxter bwojH pwojH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/buʌiH/ /puʌiH/
Pan
Wuyun 		/buoiH/ /puoiH/
Shao
Rongfen 		/buɒiH/ /puɒiH/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/bwəjH/ /pwəjH/
Li
Rong 		/buᴀiH/ /puᴀiH/
Wang
Li 		/buɒiH/ /puɒiH/
Bernhard
Karlgren 		/bʱuɑ̆iH/ /puɑ̆iH/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		bèi bèi
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		bui6 bui3
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 背 背
Reading # 1/2 2/2
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		bèi bèi
Middle
Chinese 		‹ bwojH › ‹ pwojH ›
Old
Chinese 		/*m-pˁək-s/ /*pˁək-s/
English turn the back on the back

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 背 背
Reading # 1/2 2/2
No. 408 409
Phonetic
component 		北 北
Rime
group 		代 代
Rime
subdivision 		0 0
Corresponding
MC rime 		背 佩
Old
Chinese 		/*pɯːɡs/ /*bɯːɡs/

Definitions

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背

  1. (anatomy) back
    捶背  ―  chuíbèi  ―  to give a back massage
    馬背／马背  ―  mǎbèi  ―  horseback
  2. back; backside; reverse side
    手背  ―  shǒubèi  ―  back of the hand
    紙背／纸背  ―  zhǐbèi  ―  back of a piece of paper
  3. to leave; to abandon
    背井離鄉／背井离乡  ―  bèijǐnglíxiāng  ―  to leave one's native place and move elsewhere
  4. to back onto
    背著太陽坐／背着太阳坐  ―  bèi zhe tàiyáng zuò  ―  to sit with one's back to the sun
    背山面海  ―  bèi shān miàn hǎi  ―  backing on to a mountain and facing the sea
  5. to betray
  6. to do something behind one's back; to hide something from someone
    男朋友背著我和其他女生聊天。 [MSC, trad.]
    男朋友背着我和其他女生聊天。 [MSC, simp.]
    Nánpéngyǒu bèi zhe wǒ hé qítā nǚshēng liáotiān. [Pinyin]
    My boyfriend chats with other girls behind my back.
  7. to deviate; to go contrary to; to violate
    背約／背约  ―  bèiyuē  ―  to break one’s promise
    背著良心說話／背着良心说话  ―  bèi zhe liángxīn shuōhuà  ―  to speak against one's conscience
  8. to memorize; to recite
    這篇文章寫得多棒啊，背下來。 [MSC, trad.]
    这篇文章写得多棒啊，背下来。 [MSC, simp.]
    Zhè piān wénzhāng xiěde duō bàng a, bèi xiàlái. [Pinyin]
    How excellently written is this article! Memorize it.
    你背唐詩背了多少首？ [MSC, trad.]
    你背唐诗背了多少首？ [MSC, simp.]
    Nǐ bèi Tángshī bèi le duōshǎo shǒu? [Pinyin]
    How many Tang poems have you memorized?
  9. unlucky; out of luck
  10. hard of hearing
    耳朵有點兒背／耳朵有点儿背  ―  ěrduo yǒudiǎnr bèi  ―  to be a bit hard of hearing
  11. remote; out-of-the-way
  12. (Cantonese) isolated; out of touch; out of the loop; ignorant of what is happening; uninformed of the latest news; not up to speed
  13. (swimming) short for 背泳 (bèiyǒng, “backstroke”)
Synonyms
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Dialectal synonyms of 背 (“back (of the body)”) [map]
Variety Location Words
Classical Chinese 背
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) 背, 背部, 背脊, 脊背, 後背
Northeastern Mandarin Beijing 後脊樑, 脊樑
Taiwan 背
Ulanhot 背
Tongliao 背
Chifeng 背
Hulunbuir (Hailar) 背
Harbin 背, 後背, 後脊樑, 脊樑
Singapore 背
Jilu Mandarin Jinan 脊樑
Jiaoliao Mandarin Yantai (Muping) 脊樑桿子, 脊樑, 脊樑蓋子
Central Plains Mandarin Luoyang 脊樑
Wanrong 脊背
Zhengzhou 脊樑
Xi'an 脊背
Xining 脊背
Xuzhou 後筋股, 筋股, 後脊樑股, 脊樑股
Lanyin Mandarin Yinchuan 脊樑
Bayanhot 背, 脊背, 脊樑
Lanzhou 脊背
Ürümqi 脊背, 脊樑
Southwestern Mandarin Chengdu 背
Wuhan 背心, 背
Guiyang 背
Liuzhou 背, 脊樑
Jianghuai Mandarin Nanjing 脊背, 脊背心
Yangzhou 脊背, 脊樑, 背
Hefei 脊背, 背, 後背心
Mandarin Nanping (Yanping) 背子
Cantonese Guangzhou 背脊, 背脢
Hong Kong 背脊
Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) 背脊, 背樑, 背裡
Hong Kong (Ting Kok) 背裡脊
Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) 背脊
Zhongshan (Shiqi) 背脢
Taishan 背脊, 後背
Kaiping (Chikan) 背脊
Yangjiang 背脊, 背脢, 背篷
Nanning 背脊
Nanning (Tanka) 背脊
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) 背脊
Gan Nanchang 背脊
Lichuan 背脊
Pingxiang 背脊, 背
Hakka Meixian 背囊, 背脊
Xingning 背囊
Huidong (Daling) 背囊脊
Wuhua (Shuizhai) 背囊
Wuhua (Huacheng) 背囊
Wuhua (Changbu) 背囊
Wuhua (Mianyang) 背囊
Shaoguan (Qujiang) 背脊
Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang) 背囊
Jiexi 背囊
Luhe 背囊
Changting 背脊, 背
Wuping 背脊, 背囊
Wuping (Pingyu) 背囊
Liancheng 背脊
Ninghua 背脊
Yudu 背
Ruijin 背脊
Shicheng 背脊
Shangyou (Shexi) 背
Miaoli (N. Sixian) 背囊
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) 背囊
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) 背囊
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) 背囊
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) 背囊
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) 背脊𩩍
Hong Kong 背囊
Sabah (Longchuan) 背囊, 背
Senai (Huiyang) 背囊
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo) 背囊
Singkawang 背囊
Huizhou Jixi 背脊
Jin Taiyuan 脊背
Xinzhou 脊背
Taibus (Baochang) 背
Linhe 脊背
Jining 脊背
Hohhot 脊背
Baotou 脊背
Dongsheng 脊背
Haibowan 脊背
Northern Min Jian'ou 背脊, 背脊𩩍
Eastern Min Fuzhou 𩩍, 𩩍脊骨
Southern Min Xiamen 尻脊, 尻脊𩩍, 巴脊
Quanzhou 尻脊, 巴脊
Jinjiang 尻壁
Yongchun 巴脊
Zhangzhou 尻脊, 尻脊𩩍, 巴脊
Zhangzhou (Longhai) 尻脊𩩍
Zhangzhou (Changtai) 尻脊
Zhao'an 尻脊𩩍
Taipei 尻脊𩩍
New Taipei (Sanxia) 巴脊
Kaohsiung 尻脊𩩍
Yilan 尻脊𩩍
Changhua (Lukang) 尻脊𩩍
Taichung 尻脊𩩍
Tainan 尻脊𩩍
Hsinchu 尻脊𩩍
Kinmen 尻脊𩩍
Penghu (Magong) 尻脊𩩍
Penang (Hokkien) 尻脊, 尻脊後
Singapore (Hokkien) 尻脊, 巴脊
Manila (Hokkien) 巴脊, 後壁, 尻脊
Chaozhou 尻脊
Raoping 尻脊
Jieyang 尻脊, 尻脊枋
Haifeng 巴脊
Bangkok (Teochew) 尻脊
Johor Bahru (Teochew) 尻脊
Leizhou 尻脊
Haikou 尻脊
Puxian Min Putian 尻脊, 尻脊身
Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) 尻脊
Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) 尻脊
Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) 尻脊
Xianyou 尻脊, 尻骿
Xianyou (Fengting) 尻脊, 尻骿
Xianyou (Youyang) 尻脊, 尻骿
Southern Pinghua Nanning (Tingzi) 背脊, 背脢
Wu Shanghai 背脊, 背脊骨
Shanghai (Chongming) 背肌
Suzhou 背心, 背
Danyang 背背
Hangzhou 背脊
Ningbo 背脊心, 背脊登, 背脊胴, 背脊
Wenzhou 背脊身, 背骶身, 後半身
Jinhua 背脊
Xiang Changsha 背脊, 背心, 背
Loudi 背, 背皮
Shuangfeng 背心, 背
Hengyang 背身

Compounds

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Pronunciation 2

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trad. 背/揹*
simp. 背

Definitions

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背

  1. to carry on the back
  2. (figurative) to carry; to bear (blame); to shoulder (responsibility)
Synonyms
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  • (to carry on the back): 馱／驮 (tuó)
Dialectal synonyms of 背負 (“to carry on the back”) [map]
Variety Location Words
Classical Chinese 負
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) 背負
Northeastern Mandarin Beijing 背
Taiwan 背
Jilu Mandarin Jinan 背
Central Plains Mandarin Xi'an 背
Southwestern Mandarin Chengdu 背
Wuhan 背, 馱
Jianghuai Mandarin Yangzhou 背, 馱
Hefei 背, 馱
Cantonese Guangzhou 孭
Hong Kong 孭
Taishan 孭
Yangjiang 孭
Gan Nanchang 馱, 背
Hakka Meixian 背, 揹2
Jin Taiyuan 背
Northern Min Jian'ou 騎, 邁 †
Eastern Min Fuzhou 邁
Southern Min Xiamen 背, 揹3, 偝 †
Quanzhou 偝
Jinjiang 偝
Zhangzhou 揹3, 偝 †
Taipei 揹3, 偝
New Taipei (Sanxia) 揹3, 偝
Kaohsiung 揹3, 偝
Yilan 揹3, 偝
Changhua (Lukang) 揹3, 偝
Taichung 揹3, 偝
Tainan 揹3, 偝
Hsinchu 揹3, 偝
Kinmen 背, 偝
Penghu (Magong) 背, 揹3, 偝
Penang (Hokkien) 偝
Manila (Hokkien) 偝
Chaozhou 背, 彵 †
Jieyang 背, 彵
Wu Suzhou 背
Wenzhou 背, 擐
Xiang Changsha 背
Shuangfeng 背
Note † - to carry (someone) on the back

Compounds

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References

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Japanese

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Kanji

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背

(Sixth grade kyōiku kanji)

  1. back, stature

Readings

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Etymology 1

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Kanji in this term
背
せ
Grade: 6
kun'yomi
Alternative spellings
背
脊 (uncommon)

Alternative forms

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  • (one's height): 背(せい) (sei)

Pronunciation

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  • (one's back; the rear of something):
  • (one's height):

Noun

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背(せ) • (se) 

  1. one's back (part of the human body)
  2. one's height
    田(た)中(なか)さんは背(せ)が高(たか)い。
    Tanaka-san wa se ga takai.
    Tanaka is tall.
    (literally, “Tanaka's height is high.”)
  3. the rear of something, the area behind
  4. spine (of a book)
    Synonym: 背(せ)表(びょう)紙(し) (sebyōshi)
Synonyms
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Etymology 2

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Kanji in this term
背
せい
Grade: 6
kun'yomi
Alternative spelling
脊

Pronunciation

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Noun

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背(せい) • (sei) 

  1. height

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

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Etymology

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From Middle Chinese 背 (MC bwojH|pwojH). Recorded as Middle Korean ᄇᆡ〯 (pǒy) (Yale: pǒy) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Pronunciation

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  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [pɛ(ː)] ~ [pe̞(ː)]
  • Phonetic hangul: [배(ː)/베(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

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Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

背 (eumhun 등 배 (deung bae))

  1. hanja form? of 배 (“back”)
  2. hanja form? of 배 (“betrayal”)

Compounds

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References

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  • 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [4]

Vietnamese

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Han character

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背: Hán Nôm readings: bối, bội, bổi, bồi

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
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