背 is also the simplified spelling of 揹.
DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
背
Characters in this entry
- 背
- bèi · back; back side; behind; betray
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
1 · bei1
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
1character link18same-tone records
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
bui3 · bui6
Cantonese word readings for 背. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- (anatomy) back
- back; backside; reverse side
- to leave; to abandon
- to back onto
- to betray
- to do something behind one's back; to hide something from someone
- to deviate; to go contrary to; to violate
- to memorize; to recite
- unlucky; out of luck
- hard of hearing
- remote; out-of-the-way
- (Cantonese) isolated; out of touch; out of the loop; ignorant of what is happening; uninformed of the latest news; not up to speed
- (swimming) short for 背泳 (bèiyǒng, “backstroke”)
character
- to carry on the back
- (figurative) to carry; to bear (blame); to shoulder (responsibility)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack