寝返(ねがえ)り

ねがえり
noun
turning over (in bed); roll over
1. turning over (in bed)
Rolling from one position to another while sleeping.
寝返(ねがえ)りを打(う)つ。
To roll over in bed.
赤(あか)ちゃんが寝返(ねがえ)りを打(う)った。
The baby rolled over.
寝返(ねがえ)りがしやすいベッドが欲(ほ)しい。
I want a bed that's easy to turn over in.
夜中(よなか)に何度(なんど)も寝返(ねがえ)りを打(う)って、よく眠(ねむ)れなかった。
I rolled over many times in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep well.
赤(あか)ちゃんが初(はじ)めて寝返(ねがえ)りをした時(とき)、家族(かぞく)みんなで喜(よろこ)んだ。
When the baby rolled over for the first time, the whole family celebrated.
2. betrayal; defection
Switching sides or betraying one's allies.
味方(みかた)が敵(てき)に寝返(ねがえ)った。
Our ally defected to the enemy.
部下(ぶか)が寝返(ねがえ)った。
A subordinate betrayed us.
戦(たたか)いの途中(とちゅう)で大(おお)きな軍勢(ぐんぜい)が寝返(ねがえ)った。
A large army defected in the middle of the battle.
信頼(しんらい)していた仲間(なかま)に寝返(ねがえ)られて、とても悔(くや)しかった。
I was very frustrated when a trusted companion betrayed me.
有利(ゆうり)な条件(じょうけん)を出(だ)されて寝返(ねがえ)る者(もの)が続出(ぞくしゅつ)した。
People who defected after being offered favorable terms came one after another.

寝返(ねがえ)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(あか)ちゃんの寝返(ねがえ)り).

FIGURATIVE MEANING:
Betray, defect, switch sides. The image is of "turning over" one's allegiance.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 寝返(ねがえ)りを打(う)つ: to roll over (physical) / to defect (figurative)
  • 寝返(ねがえ)りができる: able to roll over (baby milestone)
  • 敵(てき)に寝返(ねがえ)る: to defect to the enemy

RELATED WORDS:

  • 裏切(うらぎ)り: betrayal (more direct/harsh)
  • 寝(ね)る: to sleep (component verb)
  • 返(かえ)る: to return (component verb)
core
Added 2026.1.16 16:47 · Revised 2026.3.9 11:45
05500/05510_negaeri