背後(はいご)

はいご
noun
behind; the back; background
formalwrittendirection
1. behind; the back; the rear
The area behind a person or thing. More formal and literary than 後ろ.
背後(はいご)から足音(あしおと)が聞(き)こえた。
I heard footsteps from behind.
背後(はいご)に人(ひと)の気配(けはい)を感(かん)じて振(ふ)り返(かえ)った。
I sensed someone behind me and turned around.
建物(たてもの)の背後(はいご)に山(やま)がそびえていた。
A mountain towered behind the building.
2. behind the scenes; background; hidden side
The hidden forces, motives, or circumstances behind an event or situation. Often used in news and investigative contexts.
事件(じけん)の背後(はいご)に大(おお)きな組織(そしき)がある。
There is a large organization behind the incident.
政治的(せいじてき)な背後(はいご)関係(かんけい)が疑(うたが)われている。
Political connections behind the scenes are suspected.
この問題(もんだい)の背後(はいご)には、長年(ながねん)の社会的(しゃかいてき)不満(ふまん)が隠(かく)れている。
Behind this problem, years of social discontent lie hidden.

Usage

More formal and literary than 後(うし)ろ. In sense 1, often used in tense or dramatic scenes. In sense 2, commonly appears in news, analysis, and investigative journalism.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 後(うし)ろ: behind — the everyday, neutral word for the area behind something
  • 裏(うら): the back; the hidden side — can overlap with sense 2 but also covers physical reverse sides

Related Words

Synonym: 後(うし)ろ (behind (everyday))
Related: 裏(うら) (hidden side)
Compare: 背景(はいけい) (background)
general
Added 2026.3.20 21:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18000/18212_haigo