背せ筋すじ

せ

す

じ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

spine; line of the back; backbone line

Refers to the vertical line along the back or spine, especially in posture expressions such as 背筋を伸ばす.

背せ筋すじを伸のばして椅い子すに座すわった。
I sat in the chair with my back straight.
怖こわい話はなしを聞きいて背せ筋すじが寒さむくなった。
Hearing the scary story sent a chill down my spine.

2

back seam; seam down the back of clothing

Clothing and sewing use: the seam or line running down the back of a garment.

ジャケットの背せ筋すじの縫ぬい目めが少すこし曲まがっている。
The seam down the back of the jacket is slightly crooked.

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Usage patterns

背せ筋すじがまっすぐだone's back/spine is straight
彼かの女じょは背せ筋すじがまっすぐで、立たち姿すがたが美うつくしい。
Her back is perfectly straight, and she has a beautiful standing posture.
背せ筋すじにファスナーがあるto have a zipper along the back seam (of a garment)
このドレスは背せ筋すじにファスナーがある。
This dress has a zipper along the back seam.
背せ筋すじに力ちからを入いれるto tense or engage the muscles along the back
背せ筋すじに力ちからを入いれて、椅い子すに座すわった。
I sat down in the chair with my back muscles engaged.

Expressions

背せ筋すじが凍こおるhave a chill run down one's spine
背せ筋すじを伸のばすstraighten one's back; sit/stand up straight
背せ筋すじが寒さむくなるfeel a chill run down one's spine

Kanji

背stature, height, back
筋muscle, sinew, tendon

Related words

背せ骨ぼねN1sense 1
背骨 is the anatomical term for the actual backbone/vertebral column, while 背筋 refers more to the visible line or posture of the back.
縫ぬい目め sense 2
縫い目 is the general term for any seam or stitch line, while 背筋 in this sense specifically names the seam running down the back of a garment.
姿し勢せいN3sense 1
姿勢 is the general word for posture or bearing, whereas 背筋 specifically points to the straightness of the back, as in 背筋を伸ばす.

Don't confuse with

背せ中なかN4sense 1
背中 means the whole back of the body, while 背筋 refers narrowly to the vertical line or seam running down it.
腹ふっ筋きんN1
腹筋 refers to the abdominal muscles (front of the torso), while 背筋 refers to the back muscles, and the two are easy to mix up since both are 〜筋 body-part terms used in fitness talk.

Word family

セスジネズミ
striped field mouse

Built from

背せ+筋すじ

Written forms

背せ筋すじUsage90%
Standard kanji spelling with the reading せすじ.
背せすじUsage9%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling that makes the すじ part explicit; useful when emphasizing the せすじ reading.
せすじUsage1%
セスジUsage<1%

Etymology

A compound of 背, meaning the back, and 筋, meaning a line, strand, or streak; the spelling reflects the idea of the line running along the back.