1.
lying face up; supine position
The position of lying with one's face and front of body facing upward.
仰向け describes the supine position — lying with the face and body facing upward. It contrasts with 俯せ (face down, prone).
Common expressions
- 仰向けになる: to lie on one's back
- 仰向けに寝る: to sleep on one's back
- 仰向けに倒れる: to fall backward
- 仰向けの姿勢: supine position
Usage
Used in everyday descriptions of body position, medical/health contexts (sleeping posture, exercises), and in narrative writing describing someone who has fallen or is resting.
Writing
The reading combines 仰 (to look up) and 向け (facing). Sometimes written in hiragana as あおむけ.