How to say "opposite" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 逆ぎゃくno-adjective, na-adjectiveThe reverse or contrary of something — an opposite direction, order, or meaning; the word you want when saying one thing is the opposite of another.
- 裏腹うらはらna-adjective, nounOpposite as 'contrary to what one hopes, intends, or expects' — an outcome that turns out the reverse of one's wishes; not the word for physical or spatial opposites.
- 向いむかいno-adjectiveThe spatial sense: facing something or on the other side — the shop or house across the street; use it for location, not for reversed meanings or directions.その店は通りの向かいにあります。↗The store is across the street.
- no-adjective, na-adjectiveA mimetic word for things being the other way round — reversed, inverted, or swapped; fits talk about an order or arrangement turned backwards.
- 対向たいこうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun-like word for things facing or heading toward each other; it mostly appears in compounds with a 'counter-' meaning, so it is seldom the standalone word you want for 'opposite'.
Choose 逆 for the reverse of a direction, order, or meaning; 「向い」 for the spatial 'across/facing' sense; 裏腹 for results contrary to one's wishes; 「あべこべ」 for things swapped or backwards; and 対向 for facing or counter-directional movement.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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