背(せ)

せ

noun

height, stature, back

1. height, stature

How tall a person is.

背(せ)が高(たか)いですね。

You're tall, aren't you?

背(せ)が低(ひく)い。

To be short (in height).

背(せ)が伸(の)びた。

I grew taller.

兄(あに)より背(せ)が高(たか)い。

I'm taller than my older brother.

背(せ)の順(じゅん)に並(なら)ぶ。

Line up in order of height.

背(せ)はどのくらいですか。

How tall are you?

2. back (of body)

The rear part of the body.

背(せ)を伸(の)ばす。

To straighten one's back.

背中(せなか)が痛(いた)い。

My back hurts.

背(せ)を向(む)けた。

They turned their back.

背(せ)を押(お)してあげた。

I gave them a push (on their back).

椅子(いす)に座(すわ)っていたら背(せ)が痛(いた)くなった。

My back started hurting from sitting in a chair.

背(せ) refers to height/stature or the back of the body.

HEIGHT EXPRESSIONS:

背(せ)が高(たか)い: tall
背(せ)が低(ひく)い: short
背(せ)が伸(の)びる: to grow taller
背(せ)の順(じゅん): in order of height

BACK EXPRESSIONS:

背中(せなか): back (of body) - most common
背(せ)を向(む)ける: to turn one's back
背(せ)を伸(の)ばす: to straighten one's back
背(せ)を押(お)す: to push from behind; to encourage

RELATED WORDS:

身長(しんちょう): height (formal measurement)
背丈(せたけ): stature, height
背骨(せぼね): spine, backbone

IDIOM:
背(せ)に腹(はら)は代(か)えられない: necessity knows no law

basic

Added 2026.1.11 18:50 · Revised 2026.5.23 6:18

02500/02907_se