背後(はいご)

はいご
noun
behind; the back; background
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:

  • 背後(はいご)から (from behind)
  • 背後(はいご)に回(まわ)る (to go around behind)
  • 背後(はいご)関係(かんけい) (connections behind the scenes)
  • 事件(じけん)の背後(はいご) (behind the incident)

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
general
Added 2026.3.20 21:19
18000/18212_haigo