How to say "rear" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 後あとno-adjectiveCovers the location sense 'rear' or 'behind'. It often appears in more formal or written expressions than 後ろ, so when speaking of what is at the back of something, 後ろ is usually the safer everyday choice.
- 後ろうしろno-adjectiveThe ordinary word for the location sense 'rear' or 'back' of a person, object, or place, as in standing behind someone or sitting at the back. Use this for most everyday spatial references.
- noun, prefix, na-adjectiveA loanword used mainly in technical and vehicle-related contexts, such as car and bicycle terminology, for the 'rear' part. It is not the word for everyday spatial 'behind' statements.
- nounA loanword covering 'back' and 'rear', especially in vehicle contexts such as backing up a car. For the plain spatial sense of 'behind' or 'at the rear', 後ろ is the more natural everyday word.
- 育てるそだてるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb sense 'to rear', meaning to raise and bring up children, animals, or plants. It has nothing to do with position or direction, so never use it for the location sense of 'rear'.
For the location sense 'rear', choose 「後ろ」 (or 後), the loanwords 「リア」 and 「バック」 in technical or vehicle contexts, and 「育てる」 only for the verb 'to rear' meaning to raise children or animals.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 後あとbehind
- 後ろうしろback
- リアrear
- バックback
- 育てるそだてるto raise
- 後方こうほうrear
- 背面はいめんrear
- 後部こうぶrear
- 背後はいごback
- 育むはぐくむto raise
- 裏手うらてback (esp. of a building, etc.)
- 育て上げるそだてあげるto raise (to maturity)
- 最後尾さいこうびend (e.g. of a line)
- 飼うかうto keep (a pet or other animal)
- 後方しりえrear
- 後ろ側うしろがわback (side)
- 殿しんがりrear
- 後面こうめんrear side
- 後背こうはいback
- 養い育てるやしないそだてるto bring up
- 尻っぽしりっぽtail end
- 裏うらrear
- 手がけるてがけるto rear
- 養うやしなうto bring up
- 後ろ手うしろでbehind
- けつrear
- 背部はいぶback
See also
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