背

bēi

HSK 4, 5

背 — bēi

1. to be burdened; to carry (on the back or shoulder)

   他每天背着一个大书包上学。 tā měitiān bèizhe yígè dà shūbāo shàngxué — He carries a big schoolbag on his back to school every day.

背 — bèi

1. the back (of a person or object); backside

   椅子的背很高，坐起来很舒服。 yǐzi de bèi hěn gāo zuò qǐlái hěn shūfú — The chair's back is high and comfortable to sit on.

2. to turn one's back (on someone); to show one's back

   他生气地背过身去，不回答问题。 tā shēngqì dì bèi guò shēn qù bù huídá wèntí — He turned his back angrily and didn't answer questions.

3. to do something behind someone's back; to hide something from someone

   别在我背后说他的坏话。 bié zài wǒ bèihòu shuō tā de huàihuà — Don't speak ill of him behind my back.

4. to learn by heart; to recite from memory

   他已经把课文背得滚瓜烂熟了。 tā yǐjīng bǎ kèwén bèi dé gǔnguālànshú le — He has already memorized the text perfectly.

5. (slang) unlucky; (colloquial) hard of hearing

   他最近背，什么事都不顺利。 tā zuìjìn bèi shénme shì dōu bùshùn lì — He's been unlucky recently; nothing is going well.