(はいきん)

はいきん
noun
back muscles
1. back muscles; dorsal muscles
The muscles of the back, including the latissimus dorsi and erector spinae. Used in fitness, anatomy, and physical therapy contexts.
背筋(はいきん)(きた)える。
To train one's back muscles.
腹筋(ふっきん)背筋(はいきん)をバランスよく(きた)えよう。
Let's train the abdominal and back muscles in a balanced way.
背筋(はいきん)(よわ)いと姿勢(しせい)(わる)くなりやすい。
If your back muscles are weak, you tend to have poor posture.

A compound of (せ/はい) (back) and (きん) (muscle). Read as はいきん, this word refers specifically to the muscles of the back. Not to be confused with the same kanji read as せすじ, which means 'spine' or 'posture.'

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 背筋(はいきん)(きた)える: to train/strengthen back muscles
  • 背筋(はいきん)トレーニング: back muscle training
  • 背筋(はいきん)運動(うんどう): back exercises
  • 背筋(はいきん)(よわ)い: to have weak back muscles

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 背筋(せすじ): spine; posture — same kanji but different reading and meaning; refers to the line of the back or straightening one's posture
  • 腹筋(ふっきん): abdominal muscles — often paired with 背筋(はいきん) in exercise contexts
  • 筋肉(きんにく): muscle — general term for muscles
  • 広背筋(こうはいきん): latissimus dorsi — a specific back muscle