How to say "reverse" in Japanese

• 逆ぎゃくJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers 'reverse' in the sense of the opposite — a reversed direction, order, or outcome. Use it when something runs contrary to what is normal, expected, or was previously stated or done.
  夫おっとの方ほうが殴なぐったと彼女かのじょは言いっているが、実じつはその逆ぎゃくだった。↗

  She said that her husband hit her, but in fact it was the other way around.
• 裏面うらめんCommon
  nounCovers the physical sense of 'reverse': the back side of a flat object such as a coin, card, or sheet of paper, as opposed to its front face.
• 裏面りめんCommon
  nounThe same word, read りめん instead of うらめん, with the same meaning: the reverse or back side of a flat object such as a coin or a page.
• 背面はいめんCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'reverse' as the rear or back surface of something — the side facing away from the front. Typical contexts are the back of a device, a body, or a building.
• 敗北はいぼくCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbHere 'reverse' means a defeat or setback, as in 'suffer a reverse'. The word is simply 'defeat; loss', so it fits only that sense, not reversed directions or the backs of things.
  彼かれは、自分じぶんのお気に入きにいりのコーラス・ガールが、ほかの男おとこと結婚けっこんした時とき、敗北はいぼくを認みとめた。↗

  He threw in the towel in defeat when his favorite chorus girl married another man.

Choose 逆 for 'reverse' as the opposite in direction, order, or meaning; 裏面 or 背面 for the reverse side of a physical object; and 敗北 only when 'reverse' means a defeat or setback.

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

• 逆ぎゃくreverse
• 裏面うらめんback (side)
• 裏面りめんback (side)
• 背面はいめんrear
• 敗北はいぼくdefeat
• 裏腹うらはらopposite
• 逆しまさかしまreverse
• あべこべcontrary
• 逆さかinverse
• リバースreverse
• 逆向きぎゃくむきopposite direction
• 逆性ぎゃくせいinverse
• 反対はんたいreverse
• 背せreverse
• 覆すくつがえすto reverse (decision etc.)
• 翻すひるがえすto change (one's mind)
• 裏返しうらがえしflip side
• ひっくり返すひっくりかえすto overturn (e.g. a decision)
• バックreverse (gear)