<blockquote>
  <p>我年轻时吃喝嫖赌，什么浪荡的事都干过。我常去的那家妓院是单名，叫青楼。里面有个胖胖的妓女很招我喜爱，她走路时两片大屁股就像挂在楼前的两只灯笼，晃来晃去。她躺到床上一动一动时，压在上面的我就像睡在船上，在河水里摇呀摇呀。我经常让她背着我去逛街，我骑在她身上像是骑在一匹马上。...</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The first section of text already makes it clear that 背着 refers to the 妓女 carrying the narrator on her back. (because she was fat enough and the narrator felt like he was riding a horse)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:20:04.490Z
That is why backpack is called 背包
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:32:36.917Z
In 背着, the 着 in this context is read as "with" So 背着 = "back-with", or "with your back" So, 背着, carry "with your back" You can also say 背上, (carry "on your back")
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:57:05.833Z
@WayneCheah you should comment on question
Axel Tong
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T13:57:30.320Z
I thought both you and fefe have already answered the question. So I just made some side comments to round up the topic.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T13:59:42.903Z
I see; I thought you were trying to answer the OP
Axel Tong
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:08:29.213Z
2020-01-30T12:08:29.213Z
Axel Tong
<blockquote>
  <p>Perhaps it's grammatically possible she's physically carrying him or her back (?), which seems implausible.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You're correct. She is physically carrying him on her back.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:06:28.380Z
2020-01-30T12:06:28.380Z
fefe
<p>I encountered <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E8%83%8C%E7%9D%80" rel="nofollow noreferrer">背着</a> thrice in quick succession in the novel 活着 (pages 10 through 12):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我年轻时吃喝嫖赌，什么浪荡的事都干过。我常去的那家妓院是单名，叫青楼。里面有个胖胖的妓女很招我喜爱，她走路时两片大屁股就像挂在楼前的两只灯笼，晃来晃去。她躺到床上一动一动时，压在上面的我就像睡在船上，在河水里摇呀摇呀。我经常让她<strong>背着</strong>我去逛街，我骑在她身上像是骑在一匹马上。...</p>
<p>... 我就把那个胖大妓女从床上拖起来，让她<strong>背着</strong>我回家，叫了抬轿子跟在后面，我到了家好让她坐轿子回青楼。 ...</p>
<p>... 那妓女嘟嘟哝哝<strong>背着</strong>我往城门走，说什么雷公不打睡觉人 ...</p>
<p>... 在两旁人群的哄笑里，妓女呼哧呼哧<strong>背着</strong>我小跑起来，嘴里骂道： ...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In each case, the <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%A6%93%E5%A5%B3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">妓女</a> (sex worker) is doing 背着 to the main character &quot;我&quot; (&quot;me&quot;).</p>
<p>None of the verb definitions of 背 seem to fit these sentences: to be burdened, to carry on one's back, to turn one's back, to hide something from, to learn by heart, to recite from memory.  Perhaps it's grammatically possible she's physically carrying him or her back (?), which seems implausible.</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: What does 背着 mean above?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:00:53.820Z
The 妓女 is conscious in the first sentence, right?
Axel Tong
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:02:05.903Z
Also what is the setting in the section of text
Axel Tong
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:06:23.527Z
I added a bit more to give context.  Maybe she is physically carrying him after all (?).
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T12:56:28.443Z
The dictionary has defined this use of 背 clearly.  "（用脊背驮） carry on the back:

carry a bundle of straw on the back

背一捆草

"
dan
<meaning><meaning-in-context>
What does 背着 mean in the novel 活着 (pp.10-12), e.g., ...让她背着我回家...?
# What does 背着 mean in the novel 活着 (pp.10-12), e.g., ...让她背着我回家...?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-30)

I encountered [背着](http://youdao.com/w/%E8%83%8C%E7%9D%80) thrice in quick succession in the novel 活着 (pages 10 through 12):

> 我年轻时吃喝嫖赌，什么浪荡的事都干过。我常去的那家妓院是单名，叫青楼。里面有个胖胖的妓女很招我喜爱，她走路时两片大屁股就像挂在楼前的两只灯笼，晃来晃去。她躺到床上一动一动时，压在上面的我就像睡在船上，在河水里摇呀摇呀。我经常让她**背着**我去逛街，我骑在她身上像是骑在一匹马上。...
>
> ... 我就把那个胖大妓女从床上拖起来，让她**背着**我回家，叫了抬轿子跟在后面，我到了家好让她坐轿子回青楼。 ...
>
> ... 那妓女嘟嘟哝哝**背着**我往城门走，说什么雷公不打睡觉人 ...
>
> ... 在两旁人群的哄笑里，妓女呼哧呼哧**背着**我小跑起来，嘴里骂道： ...

In each case, the [妓女](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%A6%93%E5%A5%B3) (sex worker) is doing 背着 to the main character "我" ("me").

None of the verb definitions of 背 seem to fit these sentences: to be burdened, to carry on one's back, to turn one's back, to hide something from, to learn by heart, to recite from memory. Perhaps it's grammatically possible she's physically carrying him or her back (?), which seems implausible.

**Question**: What does 背着 mean above?

**Tags:** meaning, meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The 妓女 is conscious in the first sentence, right?  
> **username_1**: Also what is the setting in the section of text  
> **username_0**: I added a bit more to give context.  Maybe she is physically carrying him after all (?).  
> **username_2**: The dictionary has defined this use of 背 clearly.  "（用脊背驮） carry on the back:  carry a bundle of straw on the back  背一捆草  "  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-01-30. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

> 我年轻时吃喝嫖赌，什么浪荡的事都干过。我常去的那家妓院是单名，叫青楼。里面有个胖胖的妓女很招我喜爱，她走路时两片大屁股就像挂在楼前的两只灯笼，晃来晃去。她躺到床上一动一动时，压在上面的我就像睡在船上，在河水里摇呀摇呀。我经常让她背着我去逛街，我骑在她身上像是骑在一匹马上。...

The first section of text already makes it clear that 背着 refers to the 妓女 carrying the narrator on her back. (because she was fat enough and the narrator felt like he was riding a horse)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: That is why backpack is called 背包  
> **username_3**: In 背着, the 着 in this context is read as "with" So 背着 = "back-with", or "with your back" So, 背着, carry "with your back" You can also say 背上, (carry "on your back")  
> **username_1**: @username_3 you should comment on question  
> **username_3**: I thought both you and username_4 have already answered the question. So I just made some side comments to round up the topic.  
> **username_1**: I see; I thought you were trying to answer the OP  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-01-30. Score: 1

> Perhaps it's grammatically possible she's physically carrying him or her back (?), which seems implausible.

You're correct. She is physically carrying him on her back.


---

