1.
inside out, turning over, flipping
The physical act of turning something inside out or flipping it over, such as clothing or fabric.
シャツを裏返しに着ている。
You're wearing your shirt inside out.
靴下を裏返しにして洗濯すると汚れが落ちやすい。
If you turn your socks inside out before washing, the dirt comes off more easily.
ポケットを裏返しにして中身を確認した。
I turned my pocket inside out to check the contents.
2.
the reverse, the opposite side, the flip side
Used figuratively to mean the opposite or reverse side of something abstract, such as an emotion or situation.
あの怒りは愛情の裏返しだ。
That anger is the flip side of love.
厳しさは期待の裏返しだと思う。
I think the strictness is the flip side of high expectations.
彼女の冷たい態度は本当は寂しさの裏返しなのかもしれない。
Her cold attitude might actually be the reverse side of loneliness.
USAGE:
Sense 1 is commonly used with に as 裏返しに (inside out). Sense 2 uses the pattern Aの裏返し to mean "the flip side of A" — implying that a negative-seeming quality is actually a manifestation of something else.
PATTERNS:
- 裏返しにする: to turn inside out
- 裏返しに着る: to wear inside out
- Aの裏返し: the flip side of A