How to say "reversal" in Japanese

• 逆転ぎゃくてんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA reversal of a situation: the tables turn, so the losing side ends up winning or a bad state of affairs flips to a good one, as in a comeback victory.
  形勢けいせいは逆転ぎゃくてんした。↗

  Now the shoe is on the other foot.
• 逆戻りぎゃくもどりCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbReversal as going back the way you came: relapsing into a former, often worse, state, or literally doubling back on a route. Progress is undone rather than the tables turned.
• 反転はんてんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbReversal of direction or course: something turns around and goes the other way, or flips over to its reverse side. The movement or course itself inverts, rather than a contest's fortunes.
  敵てきは機首きしゅを反転はんてんして我々われわれの方向ほうこうに向むけた。↗

  The enemy's plane suddenly turned toward us.
• 転倒てんとうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbChiefly inversion: something turns upside-down, its top and bottom swapped. For most senses of 'reversal' this is seldom the word you want, since it points to orientation, not a change of fortune or course.
  本末ほんまつを転倒てんとうするな。↗

  Don't put the cart before the horse.
• 一転いってんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, adverbA sudden, complete change: a situation or someone's stance about-faces in an instant. It stresses how total and abrupt the transformation is, rather than which side is now ahead.

Choose 逆転 for a situation flipping as the tables turn, 「逆戻り」 for backsliding or doubling back, 反転 for a change of direction or course, 転倒 for upside-down inversion, and 一転 for a sudden complete change.

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

• 逆転ぎゃくてんreversal (of a situation)
• 逆戻りぎゃくもどりretrogression
• 返しかえしreversal
• リバーサルreversal (process in photography)
• 破棄はきreversal (of an original ruling on appeal)
• 反転はんてんturning around (the other way)
• 転倒てんとうinversion
• 一転いってんcomplete change