项背 (xiàng bēi) — the back of the neck and the back (of a person)

Definition

Literary term referring to the back of the neck and the back. Used almost only in set phrases like 望其项背 ('unable to catch up') and 项背相望 ('following close behind in a crowd').

noun
the back of the neck and the back (of a person)

Examples

  • ，项背。
    Tā de chéng jì yōu xiù, ràng wǒ men nán yǐ wàng qí xiàng bēi.
    His achievements are so outstanding that we can hardly catch up with him.
  • ，项背，。
    Duì wu zhōng, dà jiā xiàng bēi xiāng wàng, huǎn màn qián xíng.
    In the line, everyone followed each other closely, moving forward slowly.
  • ，项背。
    Tā yīn jǐn zhāng ér jǐ bèi jiāng yìng, xiàng bēi hàn shī.
    He was so nervous that his back was stiff and the back of his neck was damp with sweat.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

项xiàngneck
背bèiback

项 refers to the neck and 背 to the back, so together they name the neck-and-back area.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 項; 项 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng項xiàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 項 combines 工 as a sound part with 頁, meaning head; the simplified 项 is a later shorthand.

Open 项 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
月Written in full as肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
北
北běi背bèi
Same sound today

背 was first written as 北; 北 gives the sound, and 肉 (meat, written as 月 here) was added to separate it from 北’s north meaning.

Open 背 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.