1.
turning over (in bed)
Rolling from one position to another while sleeping.
I rolled over many times in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep well.
2.
betrayal; defection
Switching sides or betraying one's allies.
寝返り has both a literal physical meaning and a figurative meaning of betrayal.
PHYSICAL MEANING:
Rolling over in bed while sleeping. An important developmental milestone for babies (赤ちゃんの寝返り).
FIGURATIVE MEANING:
Betray, defect, switch sides. The image is of "turning over" one's allegiance.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 寝返りを打つ: to roll over (physical) / to defect (figurative)
- 寝返りができる: able to roll over (baby milestone)
- 敵に寝返る: to defect to the enemy
RELATED WORDS: