Japanese word

背景

Pronunciation

Romajihaikei

Meaning

  • nounbackground

Example

この写真は背景が青いです。ko no sha shin wa hai kei ga ao i de su

The background of this photo is blue.

Illustration for 背景 (background)

More examples

会議の背景を知ると、ニュースがもっと分かりやすくなります。kai gi no hai kei o shi ru to nyū su ga mo tto wa ka ri ya su ku na ri ma su

Knowing the background of the meeting makes the news easier to understand.

Core concept

Covers what stands behind a person or event and helps define how it is seen or understood.

Common phrases

  • 背景を知るhai kei o shi ru

    know the background

  • 背景を説明するhai kei o setsu mei su ru

    explain the background

Similar words

バックグラウンドbakkuguraundo: Information about a person's experience or an event that helps explain that person or event.
事情jijō: Facts and conditions that cause or explain a situation.
経緯keii: The events and steps that led to a present situation.

Definition in Japanese

人や物の後ろにあって全体の印象を形作るものや、物事を理解するための周辺事情。hito ya mono no ushi ro ni a tte zen tai no in shō o katachi zuku ru mo no ya mono goto o ri kai su ru ta me no shū hen ji jō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound combines 背 (hai, "back") and 景 (kei, "view"), giving the sense of what is behind a view or situation.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, background can mean the information behind a situation, such as someone's work or family history, not only the part of a picture behind its subject.

Other meanings

  • contextnoun
  • settingnoun

Word lists with this word