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上背 (うわぜい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

上うわ背ぜい

う

わ

ぜ

い

Meanings

1

noun

stature; height

Refers to a person's physical height or build, often used in descriptions of appearance.

彼かれは上うわ背ぜいがあって、モデルのようだ。
He is tall and looks like a model.
上うわ背ぜいは低ひくいが、存そん在ざい感かんがある。
He is short in stature but has a strong presence.

Kanji

上above, up
背stature, height, back

Similar words

身しん長ちょう
身長 is the standard, neutral word for 'height' (of a person), while 上背 is slightly more literary and emphasizes overall build or stature.
背せ
背 can mean 'height' or 'stature' but is more general and can also refer to the back. 上背 is more specific to a person's height.

Etymology

Compound of 上 (うわ, 'upper') and 背 (ぜい, 'back' or 'stature'). The reading ぜい is a rendaku form of せ. The word refers to the upper part of the body's height.