Usage of the character 背

horse's back
(traditional Chinese architecture) roof with a low-slung curved ridgelines and geometric shapes on the upper gable walls at the ends of the roof ridges

bèiyuē

背约

[背約]

to break an agreement
to go back on one's word
to fail to keep one's promise

dāobèi

刀背

[刀背]

back of the knife

bèizhe

背着

[背著]

turning one's back to (sth or sb)
keeping sth secret from (sb)
keeping (one's hands) behind one's back

bèishān

背山

[背山]

with back to the mountain (favored location)

bēiguō

背锅

[背鍋]

(slang) (neologism derived from 背黑鍋／背黑锅 (bēihēiguō)) to carry the can; to be a scapegoat

bèizhuǎn

背转

[背轉]

to turn away
to turn one's back to
(gymnastics etc) backspin

bēidài

背带

[背帶]

braces
suspenders
sling (for a rifle)
straps (for a knapsack)

bèisòng

背诵

[背誦]

to recite
to repeat from memory

chībèi

笞背

[笞背]

to flog or whip the back

bèiguāng

背光

[背光]

to be in a poor light
to do sth with one's back to the light
to stand in one's own light

diǎnzibèi

点子背

[點子背]

(coll.) to have a stroke of bad luck

bèikàobèi

背靠背

[背靠背]

back to back

zǒubèizì

走背字

[走背字]

to have bad luck

kàobèiyǐ

靠背椅

[靠背椅]

high-back chair

bèizheshǒu

背着手

[背著手]

with one's hands clasped behind one's back

diǎnrbèi

点儿背

[點兒背]

(dialect) to be out of luck

bèipànzhě

背叛者

[背叛者]

traitor

dàobèishǒu

倒背手

[倒背手]

with one's hands behind one's back

qiāoxiǎobèi

敲小背

[敲小背]

to be masturbated by a prostitute

bèidìfēng

背地风

[背地風]

behind sb's back
privately
on the sly

tuóbèijīng

驼背鲸

[駝背鯨]

humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

bēidàikù

背带裤

[背帶褲]

overalls
dungarees

qiāozhōngbèi

敲中背

[敲中背]

to receive oral sex from a prostitute

Lúnbèixiāng

仑背乡

[崙背鄉]

Lunbei or Lunpei township in Yunlin county 雲林縣／云林县 ( Yúnlínxiàn), Taiwan

bèidìli

背地里

[背地裡]

behind sb's back

bèibāoyóu

背包游

[背包遊]

backpacking

bèiyǐngr

背影儿

[背影兒]

erhua variant of 背影 (bèiyǐng)

bēihēiguō

背黑锅

[背黑鍋]

to be made a scapegoat; to be unjustly blamed

bèiduìbèi

背对背

[背對背]

back to back

Duànbèi Shān

断背山

[斷背山]

Brokeback Mountain, 2005 English-language film by Ang Lee 李安 ( Lǐ An)

guībèizhú

龟背竹

[龜背竹]

split-leaf philodendron
Monstera deliciosa

huībèi'ōu

灰背鸥

[灰背鷗]

(bird species of China) slaty-backed gull (Larus schistisagus)

qiāodàbèi

敲大背

[敲大背]

to have sex with a prostitute

huībèidōng

灰背鸫

[灰背鶇]

(bird species of China) grey-backed thrush (Turdus hortulorum)

niúbèilù

牛背鹭

[牛背鷺]

(bird species of China) eastern cattle egret (Bubulcus coromandus)

bèikuòjī

背阔肌

[背闊肌]

latissimus dorsi muscle (back of the chest)

huībèisǔn

灰背隼

[灰背隼]

(bird species of China) merlin (Falco columbarius)

hànbèixīn

汗背心

[汗背心]

tank top
sleeveless undershirt

xiānbèichē

掀背车

[掀背車]

hatchback

bēibāofú

背包袱

[背包袱]

to have a weight on one's mind
to take on a mental burden

bēibāokè

背包客

[背包客]

backpacker

bèijǐngyīnyuè

背景音乐

[背景音樂]

background music (BGM)
soundtrack
musical setting

zǒubèizìr

走背字儿

[走背字兒]

erhua variant of 走背字 (zǒubèizì)

gōujiān-dābèi

勾肩搭背

[勾肩搭背]

(idiom) arms around each other's shoulders

diàodàibèixīn

吊带背心

[吊帶背心]

camisole (women's garment)

huībèiyànwěi

灰背燕尾

[灰背燕尾]

(bird species of China) slaty-backed forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)

bèishuǐyīzhàn

背水一战

[背水一戰]

lit. fight with one's back to the river (idiom); fig. to fight to win or die

xióngyāohǔbèi

熊腰虎背

[熊腰虎背]

waist of a bear and back of a tiger
tough and stocky build

mángcìzàibèi

芒刺在背

[芒刺在背]

feeling brambles and thorns in one's back (idiom)
uneasy and nervous
to be on pins and needles

zǐbèiliángniǎo

紫背椋鸟

[紫背椋鳥]

(bird species of China) chestnut-cheeked starling (Agropsar philippensis)

dàobèishǒur

倒背手儿

[倒背手兒]

erhua variant of 倒背手 (dàobèishǒu)

líxiāngbèijǐng

离乡背井

[離鄉背井]

to leave one's homeplace (to find work, flee disaster etc)

báibèiwùjiù

白背兀鹫

[白背兀鷲]

(bird species of China) white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

qìyuēbèiméng

弃约背盟

[棄約背盟]

to abrogate an agreement
to break one's oath (idiom)

bèijǐngdiàochá

背景调查

[背景調查]

background check

bèidào'érchí

背道而驰

[背道而馳]

to run in the opposite direction (idiom); to run counter to

bèixìnqìyì

背信弃义

[背信棄義]

breaking faith and abandoning right (idiom); to betray
treachery
perfidy

huībèiliángniǎo

灰背椋鸟

[灰背椋鳥]

(bird species of China) white-shouldered starling (Sturnia sinensis)

hóngbèizhīzhū

红背蜘蛛

[紅背蜘蛛]

redback spider

lìbèiqíméi

栗背奇鹛

[栗背奇鶥]

(bird species of China) rufous-backed sibia (Heterophasia annectans)

lübèijīwēng

绿背姬鹟

[綠背姬鶲]

(bird species of China) green-backed flycatcher (Ficedula elisae)

sǐjìyìngbèi

死记硬背

[死記硬背]

to learn by rote
to mechanically memorize

bèichéngjièyī

背城借一

[背城借一]

to make a last-ditch stand before the city wall (idiom); to fight to the last ditch
to put up a desperate struggle

hànliújiābèi

汗流浃背

[汗流浹背]

to sweat profusely (idiom)
drenched in sweat

hǔbèixióngyāo

虎背熊腰

[虎背熊腰]

back of a tiger and waist of a bear
tough and stocky build

bānbèizàoméi

斑背噪鹛

[斑背噪鶥]

(bird species of China) barred laughingthrush (Garrulax lunulatus)

bèiyǐngshāshǒu

背影杀手

[背影殺手]

(slang) (usu. of a woman) sb who looks stunning from behind
sb who has a great figure but not necessarily an attractive face
abbr. to 背殺／背杀 (bèishā)

bèijǐngxūhuà

背景虚化

[背景虛化]

background blurring (photography)

bānbèiqiányā

斑背潜鸭

[斑背潛鴨]

(bird species of China) greater scaup (Aythya marila)

huībèibóláo

灰背伯劳

[灰背伯勞]

(bird species of China) grey-backed shrike (Lanius tephronotus)

fānbèiqiányā

帆背潜鸭

[帆背潛鴨]

(bird species of China) canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

hèbèiwēngjú

褐背鹟鵙

[褐背鶲鵙]

(bird species of China) bar-winged flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus)

èhóufǔbèi

扼喉抚背

[扼喉撫背]

lit. to strangle the front and press the back (idiom)
fig. to occupy all key points (military)

guāngbèidìdōng

光背地鸫

[光背地鶇]

(bird species of China) plain-backed thrush (Zoothera mollissima)

fùbèishòudí

腹背受敌

[腹背受敵]

(idiom) to be attacked from the front and rear

wānyāotuóbèi

弯腰驼背

[彎腰駝背]

slouch
stoop
poor posture

jiàoyùbèijǐng

教育背景

[教育背景]

educational background

cāngbèishānquè

苍背山雀

[蒼背山雀]

(bird species of China) cinereous tit (Parus cinereus)

lübèilínwēng

绿背林鹟

[綠背林鶲]

(bird species of China) fulvous-chested jungle flycatcher (Rhinomyias olivacea)

lìbèibóláo

栗背伯劳

[栗背伯勞]

(bird species of China) Burmese shrike (Lanius collurioides)

lübèishānquè

绿背山雀

[綠背山雀]

(bird species of China) green-backed tit (Parus monticolus)

zōngbèibóláo

棕背伯劳

[棕背伯勞]

(bird species of China) long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach)

dàobèirúliú

倒背如流

[倒背如流]

to know by heart (so well that you can recite it backwards)

lìshǐbèijǐng

历史背景

[歷史背景]

historical background

bānbèiyànwěi

斑背燕尾

[斑背燕尾]

(bird species of China) spotted forktail (Enicurus maculatus)

āijiāncābèi

挨肩擦背

[挨肩擦背]

(idiom) to be crowded together

zōngbèixuěquè

棕背雪雀

[棕背雪雀]

(bird species of China) Blanford's snowfinch (Pyrgilauda blanfordi)

hóngbèibóláo

红背伯劳

[紅背伯勞]

(bird species of China) red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio)

áobèifùshān

鳌背负山

[鰲背負山]

debt as heavy as a mountain on a turtle's back

fùbèixiāngqīn

腹背相亲

[腹背相親]

to be on intimate terms with sb (idiom)

ànbèiyǔyàn

暗背雨燕

[暗背雨燕]

(bird species of China) dark-rumped swift (Apus acuticauda)

zōngbèitiánjī

棕背田鸡

[棕背田雞]

(bird species of China) black-tailed crake (Porzana bicolor)

bèishānlínshuǐ

背山临水

[背山臨水]

with back to the mountain and facing the water (favored location)

hēibèiyànwěi

黑背燕尾

[黑背燕尾]

(bird species of China) black-backed forktail (Enicurus immaculatus)

zǐbèiwěiyán

紫背苇鳽

[紫背葦鳽]

(bird species of China) von Schrenck's bittern (Ixobrychus eurhythmus)

wéixìnbèiyuē

违信背约

[違信背約]

in violation of contract and good faith

bèijiādiànchí

背夹电池

[背夾電池]

battery case (for a phone)

lìbèiyánliù

栗背岩鹨

[栗背岩鷚]

(bird species of China) maroon-backed accentor (Prunella immaculata)

bèijǐnglíxiāng

背井离乡

[背井離鄉]

to leave one's native place, esp. against one's will (idiom)

báibèijīdōng

白背矶鸫

[白背磯鶇]

(bird species of China) common rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis)

zōngbèihēitóudōng

棕背黑头鸫

[棕背黑頭鶇]

(bird species of China) Kessler's thrush (Turdus kessleri)

lìbèiduǎnjiǎobēi

栗背短脚鹎

[栗背短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) chestnut bulbul (Hemixos castanonotus)

ànlübèilúcí

暗绿背鸬鹚

[暗綠背鸕鶿]

(bird species of China) Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)

qiánxiōngtiēhòubèi

前胸贴后背

[前胸貼後背]

(lit.) chest sticking to back
(fig.) famished
(of several persons) packed chest to back

hóngbèihóngwěiqú

红背红尾鸲

[紅背紅尾鴝]

(bird species of China) rufous-backed redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus)

zhūbèizhuóhuāniǎo

朱背啄花鸟

[朱背啄花鳥]

(bird species of China) scarlet-backed flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)

lìbèiduǎnchìdōng

栗背短翅鸫

[栗背短翅鶇]

(bird species of China) Gould's shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus)

hēibèixìntiānwēng

黑背信天翁

[黑背信天翁]

(bird species of China) Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis)

báibèizhuómùniǎo

白背啄木鸟

[白背啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)

wénbèibǔzhūniǎo

纹背捕蛛鸟

[紋背捕蛛鳥]

(bird species of China) streaked spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna)

lánbèibāsèdōng

蓝背八色鸫

[藍背八色鶇]

(bird species of China) blue-rumped pitta (Hydrornis soror)

hèbèidìshānquè

褐背地山雀

[褐背地山雀]

(bird species of China) ground tit (Pseudopodoces humilis)

bānbèidàwěiyīng

斑背大尾莺

[斑背大尾鶯]

(bird species of China) marsh grassbird (Locustella pryeri)

fúlìtiáozhěngbèixīn

浮力调整背心

[浮力調整背心]

BCD
Buoyancy Compensation Device (diving)

dàjīnbèizhuómùniǎo

大金背啄木鸟

[大金背啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) greater flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus)

miàncháohuángtǔbèicháotiān

面朝黄土背朝天

[面朝黃土背朝天]

face to the ground, back to the sky

bēizhebàozheyībānzhòng

背着抱着一般重

[背著抱著一般重]

lit. whether one carries it on one's back or in one's arms, it's equally heavy (idiom)
fig. one can't avoid the burden

shǒuxīnshǒubèidōushìròu

手心手背都是肉

[手心手背都是肉]

lit. both the palm and the back of the hand are made of flesh (idiom)
fig. to both be of equal importance
to value both equally

jīnbèisānzhǐzhuómùniǎo

金背三趾啄木鸟

[金背三趾啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) common flameback (Dinopium javanense)