…背后（是／有）…
behind (an event or a success) lies …
Structure
（在） 表面的事 （的） 背后 ， 是／有／藏着 深层的原因或代价
What it means
In news and commentary 背后 moves from place to cause: X 背后 brings in what lies under an event, success or figure: causes, costs, unseen people.
How it is built
在 + X + 的背后，是 Y (full, often moving), or X 背后有/藏着 Y (plain analysis): 房价一路上涨，背后有多方面的原因 (many causes lie behind rising prices).
When to use it
Journalistic but fine in speech. 也 or 却 points to the less obvious side: 这场天灾背后也有人为的原因. 后面 is only a physical position; literal 背后 is ‘behind one's back’ (在背后议论别人).
Watch out
Don't leave out the verb. ✗成功背后多年的努力。 ✓成功背后是多年的努力。 Add 是, 有 or 藏着.
Examples
在一个个冠军的背后，是教练和队员多年的汗水。
Behind every championship lie years of sweat from coaches and players.
房价一路上涨，背后有多方面的原因。
Behind the steady rise in house prices lie causes of many kinds.
这场事故看似偶然，背后却藏着长期的管理漏洞。
The accident looks like chance, but behind it lie long-standing holes in management.
Learn this in Lesson 171 · HSK 7–9: 1998年的洪水 (The floods of 1998)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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