How to say "background" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 背景はいけいnounThe background of a picture, scene, or view, and by extension the setting or backdrop behind an event or situation; covers both the literal and the figurative sense.
- nounThe loanword for the background of a scene, picture, or the like; in this visual sense it overlaps almost entirely with 背景, and it is a natural substitute when you want the English-sounding term.
- 履歴りれきnounA person's own history and career, especially as a record of jobs and experience; it is the 'background' of application forms and personal records, not of pictures or scenes.
- 経歴けいれきnounA person's career and personal history, viewed as the course they have followed through work and life; very close to 履歴, and the word you reach for when recounting someone's career.
- 身元みもとnounA person's identity and origins — who they are and where they come from, including birth and upbringing; this is the 'background' meant when someone's identity is being checked or guaranteed.
Use 背景 for the visual or figurative backdrop of a scene or situation, 「バックグラウンド」 as the loanword for a picture's background, 履歴 and 経歴 for a person's career and history, and 身元 for identity and origins.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 背景はいけいbackground
- バックグラウンドbackground (of a scene, picture, etc.)
- 履歴りれきpersonal history
- 経歴けいれきpersonal history
- 身元みもと(one's) identity
- 遠景えんけいvista
- 後景こうけいbackground
- 背後関係はいごかんけいbackground (of a case, incident, etc.)
- 後背こうはいback
- 経験度けいけんどlevel of experience
- バックbackground
- 背後はいごbackground
- 裏面りめんthe inside
- 文脈ぶんみゃくcontext (of a matter, event, etc.)
- 素性すじょうidentity
- バックヤードbackground
- 影かげbehind
- でorigins
- 地じbase
See also
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