Translation guide
The English word "background" covers several distinct concepts. This guide breaks them down into practical meanings: personal history/experience, the setting or context of a situation, the part of a picture behind the main subject, and background activity or noise. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
When talking about someone's past, education, work experience, or family origins.
Refers to one's career or personal history, especially in professional contexts. Commonly used in resumes and introductions.
彼の経歴は非常にユニークだ。
His background is very unique.
経歴を簡単に説明してください。
Please briefly explain your background.
Loanword from English, often used in business or casual contexts to mean personal or professional background.
彼のバックグラウンドはIT業界です。
His background is in the IT industry.
Focuses on one's upbringing, childhood, and family environment. More personal and emotional than 経歴.
彼女の生い立ちは複雑だ。
Her background is complicated.
Refers to one's origins, lineage, or identity, often with a nuance of checking someone's past or credibility.
彼の素性を調べる必要がある。
We need to check his background.
When describing the environment, historical context, or surrounding conditions of an event or story.
The most common and versatile word for background as context or setting. Used for historical, social, or situational background.
この事件の背景を説明してください。
Please explain the background of this incident.
歴史的背景を理解することが重要だ。
It's important to understand the historical background.
Refers to the circumstances or reasons behind something, often used when explaining why something happened.
Refers to the detailed sequence of events or how something came to be. Often used in formal explanations.
When referring to the visual background in art, photography, or design.
The standard word for visual background. Also used metaphorically.
写真の背景をぼかす。
Blur the background of the photo.
この絵の背景は美しい。
The background of this painting is beautiful.
Shortened loanword, common in casual speech, especially for photos or stage backgrounds.
バックに山が見える。
You can see a mountain in the background.
Technical term for background in visual arts, opposite of 前景 (foreground).
When referring to something happening without being the main focus, such as computer processes, music, or ambient noise.
Adverbial phrase meaning 'in the background'. Used for apps, music, or tasks running without direct attention.
アプリがバックグラウンドで動いている。
The app is running in the background.
バックグラウンドで音楽を流す。
Play music in the background.
Abbreviation for 'background music'. Commonly used for music played in stores, games, or videos.
このカフェのBGMはジャズだ。
The background music in this cafe is jazz.
Literally 'behind' or 'back', used in compounds like 裏番組 (background program) or 裏で動く (operate in the background).
背景 (はいけい) is for context or setting, while 経歴 (けいれき) is for personal career history. Don't use 経歴 to describe the background of a story or picture.
事件の背景を調べる。
Investigate the background of the incident.
彼の経歴を調べる。
Check his background (career history).
While バックグラウンド is understood, it can sound like unnecessary English. In formal writing or speech, prefer 背景 or 経歴 depending on the meaning.
彼女は裕福な家庭に育った。
She comes from a wealthy background.
Natural Japanese often avoids a direct noun and uses a phrase like 'grew up in a wealthy family'.
写真の背景が明るすぎる。
The background of the photo is too bright.
この問題の背景を少し説明します。
Let me give you some background on this issue.
Also used for context, especially in business or technical settings.
プロジェクトのバックグラウンドを共有します。
I'll share the background of the project.
I quit my job due to family circumstances (background).
I will explain the background of this project.
Darken the background to emphasize the subject.
It's processing data in the background.