翻す・飜す|ひるがえすhirugaesu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
翻す翻す is the more common written form, using kanji and kana together; it is the form learners should use.
飜す飜す is a rarely used written form with kanji and kana together; learners should use 翻す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn over
- godan verb, transitive verbto change (one's mind); to reverse (one's decision); to take back (one's words); to retract (one's testimony, confession, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto fly (a flag); to let (a skirt, cape, etc.) flap in the wind; to let flutter
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 翻す（ひるがえす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 翻します（ひるがえします） |
| Negative (nai) | 翻さない（ひるがえさない） |
| polite (masen) | 翻しません（ひるがえしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 翻さず・翻さぬ（ひるがえさず・ひるがえさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 翻した（ひるがえした） |
| polite (mashita) | 翻しました（ひるがえしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 翻さなかった（ひるがえさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 翻しませんでした（ひるがえしませんでした） |
| Te form | 翻して（ひるがえして） |
| Potential | 翻せる（ひるがえせる） |
| Passive | 翻される（ひるがえされる） |
| Causative | 翻させる（ひるがえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 翻させられる（ひるがえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 翻せば（ひるがえせば） |
| tara | 翻したら（ひるがえしたら） |
| Volitional | 翻そう（ひるがえそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 翻しましょう（ひるがえしましょう） |
| Imperative | 翻せ（ひるがえせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
旗を翻す
翻る emphasizes the spontaneous fluttering of something like a flag (旗が翻る), while 翻す focuses on an agent causing it to flutter (旗を翻す).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym裏返すうらがえすNeutralNeutral. Turns something to its reverse side, swapping front and back as with clothing; it does not refer to changing one's mind.
- Synonymひっくり返すひっくりかえすCasualColloquial. Flipping or knocking something over, stressing a complete overturn; also used for overturning a decision, but lacks 「翻す」's fluttering sense.
- Related覆すくつがえすWrittenWritten. Overturns an established theory or brings down a government; stresses thorough subversion and is heavier than 「翻す」.
- Related反転はんてんWrittenWritten. Reverses direction, used mostly for images or a direction of travel; more objective than 「翻す」.
- Related翻倒ほんとうWrittenWritten and rare: turning something upside down, top over bottom; also for abstract things like values, but with no sense of changing one's mind.
- Related反覆はんぷくWrittenWritten and rare: a change of heart that betrays someone, or flipping something over; stresses fickleness and inconsistency.
- Antonym固めるかためるNeutralNeutral. Makes things firm or firms up resolve—the opposite of 「翻す」 changing one's mind or retracting a statement.
- Antonym維持するWrittenWritten. Keeps things unchanged—the opposite of 「翻す」's abrupt about-face in attitude.
Use 「翻す」 for suddenly changing your mind or taking back what you said, as in 「前言を翻す」, and for flags flying. For overturning an established theory use 「覆す」; for physically flipping something over, 「ひっくり返す」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
