Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 背中 | senaka | [se̞na̠ka̠] (narrow) |
| 背 | se | [se̞] (narrow) |
| 背面 | haimen | [ha̠imẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
When referring to the anatomical part of the human body, such as when discussing physical sensations like pain or itching, 背中 is the most natural and common term to use. The related term 裏 can also be used to describe something that is 'away from the main area'.
Which one should you use?
The forms provided differ based on whether you are discussing a person or an object. 背中 is the standard term for the anatomical back of a person. In contrast, 背 can refer to the physical back, but it is also the standard way to refer to a person's height or stature. For the back side or reverse side of inanimate objects, such as a building, a card or a screen, use 背面. Additionally, the terms 後の and 裏の are used to describe things that are 'near the rear'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
senaka
Did you know?
- The word 背中 is used in the idiomatic expression 背中を押す, which literally means 'to push someone's back' but actually means to encourage them to take a decisive step.
- In Japanese culture, the 'back' is often seen as a symbol of responsibility or a role model, as seen in the phrase 背中を見る, meaning to learn by watching someone's example.
- The term 背 is used in the phrase 背が高い, where it refers to height. Interestingly, Japanese does not use a word for 'tall' in this context, but rather says the 'back is high'.
Examples in context
- 背中かいて。Scratch my back.This sentence is useful for requesting someone to scratch your 背.Tatoeba #12070374 by small_snow, translation #7078369 by Eccles17
- 背中がかゆい。My back is itchy.This sentence is useful for describing an itch on your 背中.Tatoeba #10585549 by Sonata, translation #10586910 by DJ_Saidez
- 背中を蹴られた。I was kicked in the back.This sentence is useful for describing being kicked in the 背中.Tatoeba #121538 by KK_kaku_, translation #282467 by WestofEden
- 彼は家に戻った。- Kare wa ie ni modotta.He went back home.
- 学校へ帰ります。- Gakkou e kaerimasu.I'm going back to school.
- 以前の状態に後戻りするのは避けたいです。- Izen no joutai ni atomodorisuru no wa saketai desu.I want to avoid going back to the previous state.
- 前に行ったレストランに戻った。- Mae ni itta resutoran ni modotta.I went back to the restaurant I went to before.
- 友達が故郷へ帰ってきた。- Tomodachi ga kokyou e kaette kita.My friend came back to their hometown.
- 昨日、遊びに行った先へ戻りました。- Kinou, asobi ni itta saki e modorimashita.I went back to the place I visited yesterday.
- 58 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki is helping Kenta with a massage because he is tired.
- 美咲 Misaki健太くん、背中が痛いの？Kenta-kun, senaka ga itai no?Kenta, does your back hurt?
- 健太 Kentaうん、少し背中が凝ってるんだ。Un, sukoshi senaka ga kotte runda.Yeah, my back is a little stiff.
- 美咲 Misakiじゃあ、背中を揉んであげるね。Jaa, senaka o monde ageru ne.Then, I'll massage your back for you.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、助かるよ。Arigatou, tasukaru yo.Thanks, that helps a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations and entries 背中, 背, 背面, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
