How to say "betray" in Japanese

• 裏切るうらぎるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'betray' in its broadest sense: turning traitor to a person, group or country, double-crossing someone, or going back on one's word. The general-purpose choice for betrayal of trust or loyalty.
  やつは僕ぼくを裏切うらぎったんだ！↗

  He stabbed me in the back!
• 寝返るねがえるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbIts core sense is changing sides, so it fits 'betray' when this amounts to defecting to the other side or double-crossing one's current allies. Not the word for betraying someone's trust in general.
• 売るうるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'betray' as 'sell out': giving up a friend or one's country for money or advantage. It frames the betrayal as a sale, so use it for selling someone out, not for broken trust.

Use 「裏切る」 for betrayal of trust or loyalty in general, 「寝返る」 when betrayal means changing sides or double-crossing to the other side, and 「売る」 when it means selling someone out for gain.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 裏切るうらぎるto betray
• 寝返るねがえるto change sides
• 売るうるto betray
• 裏返るうらがえるto betray
• 寝返りを打つねがえりをうつto change sides