1.
back to back; standing with backs touching
The physical position of two people standing or sitting with their backs against each other.
二人は背中合わせに座った。
The two sat back to back.
背中合わせに立って身長を比べた。
We stood back to back to compare our heights.
子供たちは背中合わせになって、お互いを押し合う遊びをしていた。
The children stood back to back and played a game of pushing against each other.
2.
inseparably linked; two sides of the same coin
Figuratively describes two things that are closely connected, especially when something positive is inseparably linked with something negative or risky.
成功と失敗は背中合わせだ。
Success and failure are two sides of the same coin.
幸福と不幸は背中合わせだと言われる。
It is said that happiness and unhappiness are inseparably linked.
便利さと危険は背中合わせで、テクノロジーには常にリスクが伴う。
Convenience and danger go hand in hand — technology always carries risk.
Literally "backs together" — from 背中 (back) + 合わせ (together). The literal sense describes the physical position, while the figurative sense expresses the idea that two contrasting things are inseparably connected, like two sides of the same coin.
USAGE:
As a physical description (sense 1), it is used with に as an adverb: 背中合わせに立つ. In the figurative sense (sense 2), it typically functions as a predicate: AとBは背中合わせだ.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 背中合わせに立つ — to stand back to back
- 背中合わせに座る — to sit back to back
- 背中合わせの関係 — an inseparable relationship
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 表裏一体 — two sides of one body; more formal, same figurative meaning
- 紙一重 — paper-thin difference; emphasizes how close two outcomes are