背せい

せ

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

Refers to a person's physical height or stature. Often used in formal or written contexts. Compare with 身長 (しんちょう), which is the common everyday word for height.

Usage patterns

背せいが高たかいto be tall
彼かれは背せいが高たかい。
He is tall.
背せいが低ひくいto be short (in height)
彼かの女じょは背せいが低ひくい。
She is short.
背せいが伸のびるto grow taller
子こ供どもの背せいがぐんと伸のびた。
The child grew a lot taller.
背せいを測はかるto measure someone's height
病びょう院いんで背せいを測はかった。
I had my height measured at the hospital.

Expressions

どんぐりの背せい比くらべmuch of a muchness; all alike; no significant difference

Kanji

背stature, height, back
脊stature, height, spine

Related words

身しん長ちょうN4
身長 is the standard, everyday word for a person's height, while 背 is more literary or formal and can also describe the height of objects like trees.

Don't confuse with

背せN5
背 read せい means 'height/stature', while the same kanji read せ means 'back (of the body)' — learners must tell the readings apart by context.
せいN3
せい (所為, fault/cause) and 背 (せい, height/stature) are pronounced the same but are completely unrelated words.

Word family· 9

中ちゅう背ぜい
average height; medium height
背せい格かっ好こう
stature; build; physique
上うわ背ぜい
stature; height
背せ板

Written forms

背せい
Standard kanji spelling for 'height' or 'stature'.
脊せい
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

The kanji 背 originally depicts the back of a person, but by extension came to mean height or stature. The reading せい is the on'yomi.

いた

backboard · dorsal plate; tergum

背せい高たか

tallness; tall person

Show 4 more

背せい比くらべ
comparing heights; height comparison
セイタカシギ
black-winged stilt · stilt; avocet
ソリハシセイタカシギ
pied avocet
セイタカアワダチソウ
Canada goldenrod