逆転|ぎゃくてんgyakuten[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbreversal (of a situation); turnaround; turnabout; turning the tables; sudden change; comeback
    形勢けいせいは逆転ぎゃくてんした。↗
    Now the shoe is on the other foot.
  2. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbreversal (of direction of rotation)
Conjugation
Dictionary form逆転する(ぎゃくてんする)
Polite (masu)逆転します(ぎゃくてんします)
Negative (nai)逆転しない(ぎゃくてんしない)
polite (masen)逆転しません(ぎゃくてんしません)
classical zu / nu逆転せず・逆転せぬ(ぎゃくてんせず・ぎゃくてんせぬ)
Past (ta)逆転した(ぎゃくてんした)
polite (mashita)逆転しました(ぎゃくてんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)逆転しなかった(ぎゃくてんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)逆転しませんでした(ぎゃくてんしませんでした)
Te form逆転して(ぎゃくてんして)
Potential逆転できる(ぎゃくてんできる)
Passive逆転される(ぎゃくてんされる)
Causative逆転させる(ぎゃくてんさせる)
Causative passive逆転させられる(ぎゃくてんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)逆転すれば(ぎゃくてんすれば)
tara逆転したら(ぎゃくてんしたら)
Volitional逆転しよう(ぎゃくてんしよう)
polite (mashou)逆転しましょう(ぎゃくてんしましょう)
Imperative逆転しろ(ぎゃくてんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym反転はんてんWrittenA noun for flipping direction or an image, as in 「白黒反転」; leans physical and technical, while 「逆転」 is about a situation turning around.
  • Related覆すくつがえすWrittenA written-style verb for overturning settled conclusions or toppling a government; heavier in tone than 「逆転」.
  • Related転倒てんとうNeutralA noun for falling down, or for getting priorities back to front, as in 「本末転倒」.
  • Related裏返すうらがえすNeutralA verb for turning something over to its other side, or looking at an issue from the opposite standpoint; 「逆転」 is about a situation or direction reversing.
  • Related翻すひるがえすWrittenA written-style verb for changing one's mind, or for things flipping and fluttering.
  • Related倒置とうちWrittenA noun for reversing word order or position, as in 「倒置法」; chiefly a rhetoric term.
  • Relatedひっくり返すひっくりかえすNeutralA verb for knocking things over or overturning them, as in 「判決をひっくり返す」; very common in everyday speech.
  • Related翻倒ほんとうWrittenA written word for turning something upside down; rare in modern Japanese — people say 「ひっくり返る」 instead.

Use 「逆転」 for a comeback in a match or a situation turning around, as in 「逆転勝ち」. For flipping direction or an image use 「反転」; to overturn a decision, 「覆す」 or 「ひっくり返す」; for inverted word order, 「倒置」; for falling down, 「転倒」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 今いままでとは反対はんたい(逆ぎゃく)の方向ほうこうへ回転かいてん(進行しんこう)すること。リバース。
  2. 情勢じょうせい(形勢けいせい)がひっくり返かえること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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