背せ丈たけ

せ

た

け

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Refers to a person's height or stature, often with a nuance of build or physical presence. The reading せいたけ is less common but acceptable.

彼かれは背せ丈たけが高たかい。
He is tall in stature.
子こ供どもの背せ丈たけが伸のびた。
The child's height has increased.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の背せ丈たけが伸のびるfor someone's height to grow (get taller)
子こ供どもの背せ丈たけがこの一いち年ねんでぐんぐん伸のびた。
My child's height shot up a lot over the past year.
背せ丈たけほどの〈物もの〉as tall as a person's height
庭にわに背せ丈たけほどの草くさが生はえていた。
Grass as tall as a person had grown in the garden.
背せ丈たけに合あわせて〈動どう詞し〉to adjust something to fit one's height
服ふくを背せ丈たけに合あわせて仕し立たててもらった。
I had the clothes tailored to fit my height.

Kanji

背stature, height, back
丈length, ten shaku, measure
脊stature, height, spine

Related words

身しん長ちょうN4
身長 is the standard, clinical term used for measuring body height (as on a health form), while 背丈 is a more everyday word that also carries a sense of overall stature or build.
背せN5
背 is a broader, more casual word that can mean 'back' or 'height', whereas 背丈 specifically and unambiguously refers to a person's height.
丈たけN1
背丈 specifically means a person's standing height, while 丈 is a broader, more literary term that can also describe garment length or feelings.

Built from

背せ+丈たけ

Written forms

背丈Usage91%
- せたけ
  Standard kanji spelling. The reading せたけ is the most common.
- せいたけ
背せたけUsage7%
search-only kanji form
Search-only form; not a standard spelling.
脊丈Usage1%
rarely-used kanji form
- せたけ
  Rarely used kanji form; 背丈 is strongly preferred.
- せいたけ
せたけUsage1%
セタケUsage<1%
せいたけ

Etymology

Compound of 背 (se, 'back; height') and 丈 (take, 'length; stature'). The reading せたけ is a regular compound reading; せいたけ preserves an older reading of 背.