How to say "inverse" in Japanese

• あべこべJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveA mimetic word for things being back to front or the other way round — reversed order, direction, or arrangement. It paints the reversal vividly rather than stating it in neutral terms.
  あなたはシャツをあべこべに着きている。↗

  You are wearing your shirt inside out.
• 反対はんたいJLPT N4approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe neutral, general word for 'opposite' and 'contrary', and a straightforward way to say one thing is the inverse of another. Use it whenever you need to state the relationship plainly.

Both render the general, non-mathematical sense of 'inverse': choose the mimetic 「あべこべ」 for a vivid picture of things back to front, 反対 as the neutral all-purpose word for stating opposition.

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

• あべこべcontrary
• 逆さかinverse
• インバースinverse
• 逆性ぎゃくせいinverse
• 逆ぎゃくinverse (function)
• 反対はんたいreverse
• 鏡像きょうぞうinverse (of a point)
• 裏うらinverse (of a hypothesis, etc.)