裏|うらura[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounopposite side; bottom; other side; side hidden from view; undersurface; reverse side
   靴くつの裏うらにガムがこびりついちゃった。↗

   There's gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe.
2. nounrear; back; behind
   家いえのうらに広ひろい庭にわがあった。↗

   There was a large garden behind the house.
3. nounlining; inside
4. nounin the shadows; behind the scenes; offstage; behind (someone's) back
   裏うらから手てを回まわしてくれるよ。↗

   He can pull strings for you.
5. nounmore (to something than meets the eye); hidden side (e.g. of one's personality); unknown circumstances; different side
   不幸ふこうの裏うらには幸さいわいあり。↗

   Every cloud has a silver lining.
6. nounproof
7. nounopposite (of a prediction, common sense, etc.); contrary
8. nouninverse (of a hypothesis, etc.)
9. noun, baseballbottom (of an inning); last half (of an inning)
   今いま、何回なんかいの裏うらですか。↗

   This is the bottom of what inning?

• Synonym裏側うらがわNeutralThe reverse or hidden side of something, as in 「月の裏側」, and also hidden circumstances; it stresses the side itself more than 「裏」 does.
• Synonym裏面りめんWrittenThe reverse of a sheet of paper or the hidden side of an affair, as in 「裏面工作」; a written, formal word.
• Synonym裏手うらてNeutralThe area behind a building, as in 「店の裏手」; it is about the rear of a house or shop, not objects in general.
• Synonym背面はいめんWrittenThe back face of an object, as in 「建物の背面」; a written word with an objective, technical feel.
• Synonym後面こうめんWrittenThe rear face of an object; a written word that is rarely used.
• Related後ろうしろNeutralThe everyday word for behind in space; it is about position, while 「裏」 is about the reverse or hidden side.
• Related背後はいごWrittenBehind someone's back or behind the scenes, as in 「事件の背後」; a written word.
• Related後部こうぶWrittenThe rear part of a vehicle, building or machine, as in 「後部座席」; a written word.
• RelatedバックNeutralA loanword for the back, background or backing, as in 「バックミラー」; casual and common in compounds.
• Related陰かげWrittenA shaded spot out of the light, or acting secretly, as in 「陰で悪口を言う」.
• Related背中せなかNeutralThe back of a person's body, as in 「背中を向ける」; it never refers to the reverse side of an object.
• Related後方こうほうWrittenAn old-fashioned word for the rear, rarely used in modern Japanese; say 「後ろ」 in everyday speech.
• RelatedリアNeutralA loanword for the rear of a car or other vehicle, as in 「リアウィンドウ」; used in compounds.
• Related裏張りうらばりNeutralBacking something with paper or cloth to reinforce it, as in 「裏張りをする」; it names the craft technique, not the side itself.
• Related後ろ側うしろがわNeutralThe side facing backward; it stresses direction, as in 「家の後ろ側」.
• Related背部はいぶWrittenA medical term for the back of the body; in daily life say 「背中」.
• Related後尾こうびWrittenThe tail end of a line or train, as in 「列の後尾につく」; it is about the end of a queue, not a reverse side.
• Related後背こうはいWrittenA written word for the area behind, rarely used; 「裏」 is about the reverse or hidden side.
• Antonym表おもてNeutralThe antonym of 「裏」: the front or visible surface, as in 「紙の表」.

Use 「裏」 by default for the reverse side, back or hidden side of something. Pick 「裏側」 for a specific side, 「裏手」 for the area behind a building, 「後ろ」 for behind in space, 「背後」 for behind the scenes and 「陰」 for doing things secretly; the front is 「表」. 「裏面」 and 「背面」 are written words for the back of paper or objects, 「後部」 and 「リア」 the rear of vehicles, 「背中」 a person's back, and 「バック」 a casual loanword for the back.

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

1. （うら）衣服いふくで人ひとの目めにつかない部分ぶぶんに使つかわれる布地ぬのじ。
2. （うら）外そとから見みえない位置いち。見みただけでは解わからない部分ぶぶん。
3. （うら）秘密ひみつの場ば。
4. （うら）原因げんいんと結果けっかの両方りょうほうを否定ひていしたもの。