How to Write 背 (stature, height, back, behind, disobey) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 背 (“stature, height, back, behind, disobey”), indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. Practice 背 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 背 (せ (se) — stature), 背 (せい (sei) — stature).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (背)
Primary Radical (部首): 肉 — にく / にくづき (meat)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Meat, muscle, organs, and anatomy of the body
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハイ) when 背 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (せ, せい, そむ.く, そむ.ける) when 背 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 背 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 肉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 肉.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 背
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 背 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 背 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 背 ("stature, height, back, behind, disobey") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 背 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 肉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 背?
For 背 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ハイ and the Kunyomi is せ, せい, そむ.く, そむ.ける. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハイ) when 背 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (せ, せい, そむ.く, そむ.ける) when 背 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 背 includes 背 (せ (se) — stature), 背 (せい (sei) — stature).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 背 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 背 (stature, height, back, behind, disobey), start with the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 背 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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