# 背 — back; height

背 means “back; height”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 9 strokes. On'yomi: ハイ (hai). Kun'yomi: せい (sei), せ (se), そむ(く) (somuku). You'll see it in words such as 背 (sei, “height; stature”).

- Meaning: back; height
- On'yomi: ハイ (hai)
- Kun'yomi: せい (sei), せ (se), そむ(く) (somuku)
- Strokes: 9
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Body & health 1

## How to remember 背

Parts: 北 back to back · 月 moon; flesh

## Words with 背

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 背 | せい (sei) | height; stature |
| 背く | そむく (somuku) | to run counter to; to go against |
| 背もたれ | せもたれ (semotare) | back; backrest |

## Don't confuse it with

[能](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/ability/) · [脂](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/fat/)

## More in the “Body & health 1” set

[療](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/heal/) · [亡](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/deceased/) · [背](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/back/) · [康](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/health/) · [痛](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pain/) · [骨](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/bone/) · [臓](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/internal-organ/) · [吸](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/suck/) · [看](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/watch-over/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/back/. Last updated 2026-11-01.