1.
to bend backward, to arch back
For a person or body part to bend or lean backward, forming an arch shape.
体を反らす。
Arch one's body backward.
背中を大きく反らしてストレッチした。
I stretched by arching my back greatly.
胸を反らして堂々と歩いた。
He walked proudly with his chest thrust out.
2.
to warp, to curve, to buckle
For a flat object such as wood or paper to become curved or bent out of its original flat shape, typically due to heat, moisture, or age.
板が反っている。
The board is warped.
湿気で紙が反ってしまった。
The paper warped from the humidity.
古いレコードが熱で反って使えなくなった。
The old record warped from the heat and became unusable.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 体を反らす (arch one's body back)
- 胸を反らす (puff out one's chest)
- 背を反らす (arch one's back)
- 板が反る (a board warps)
USAGE NOTES:
The intransitive form 反る describes something bending on its own, while the transitive form 反らす means to bend something backward deliberately. 胸を反らす is an idiomatic expression meaning to puff out one's chest with pride or confidence. Not to be confused with the homophone 剃る (to shave).
Related Words
Homophone:
剃る (to shave)