せた 背が立つ Show inflections LinksSentence search for 背が立つSentence search for せがたつKanji details for 背 and 立Edit in JMdict Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Godan verb with 'tsu' ending1. to have one's feet reach the bottom (e.g. when standing in water)そこはとてもふか深くて、わたし私にはせがた背がたたなかった。The water there was so deep that I could not touch bottom. Discussions Log in to talk about this word.