# 背 stature / back of the body

北 (north) + 月 (moon/organ)
★★★☆☆
9 strokes

## Onyomi

HAI | I haven't had my coffee yet. Make up your own damn mnemonic. Grr.

## Mnemonic

| Northerners like Norwegians are taller than Japanese because of their long backs - and a back is an organ of the body.

## Kunyomi

せ | height. (NUBI) You gotta say like 背が高い! or 背が低い! NUBI ★★★★☆

## Jukugo

背景(はいけい) | background ★★★☆☆ 背 (stature / back of the body) + 景 (scene) = 背景 (background) background (both in the sense of the background of a photo, and the background context of a story)
背中(せなか) | small of the back ★★☆☆☆ KUNKUN 背 (stature / back of the body) + 中 (middle) = 背中 (small of the back)
背負う(せお＊う) | carry on back ★★☆☆☆ 背 (stature / back of the body) + 負 (lose) = 背負う (carry on back) せお＊う： lit： to carry on one's back. Figuratively, to assume the burden of.

## Synonyms

burden 負担 背負う