Chinese word

背景

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèi jǐng

Meaning

  • nounbackground

Example

请告诉我事情的背景。qǐng gào sù wǒ shì qíng de bèi jǐng

Please tell me the background of the matter.

Illustration for 背景 (background)

More examples

研究这件事需要了解它的历史背景。yán jiū zhè jiàn shì xū yào liáo jiě tā de lì shǐ bèi jǐng

To study this matter, you need to understand its historical background.

Core concept

What stands behind the main picture or event and helps explain what is in front.

Common phrases

  • 历史背景lì shǐ bèi jǐng

    historical background

  • 社会背景shè huì bèi jǐng

    social background

  • 教育背景jiào yù bèi jǐng

    educational background

Similar words

出身chū shēn: A person's birthplace, family, education, or other details showing where they come from.
来历lái lì: The past history or origin of a person, object, or matter.
经历jīng lì: A person's past work, events, or other experiences.
环境huán jìng: The natural, social, or living conditions surrounding a person or activity.

Definition in Chinese

指支持或影响某事的隐含情况、原因或历史，也指视觉上位于后方的场景或景物。zhǐ zhī chí huò yíng xiǎng mǒu shì de yǐn hán qíng kuàng yuán yīn huò lì shǐ yě zhǐ shì jué shàng wèi yú hòu fāng de cháng jǐng huò jǐng wù

Word origin

The compound 背 (bèi, "back") + 景 (jǐng, "scene") places a scene behind the foreground, a pattern that extends naturally to the hidden context behind an event.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may first think of a visual setting, but discussions of people or events often use this word for history and circumstances that make the present situation understandable.

Opposites

Related words

  • 背景故事bèi jǐng gù shìbackground storynoun
  • 背景知识bèi jǐng zhī shíbackground knowledgenoun

Word lists with this word