裏返(うらがえ)し

うらがえし
noun
inside out, the reverse
See also: 裏返(うらがえ)す (verb form)
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(うらがえ)しに着(き)ている。
You're wearing your shirt inside out.
靴下(くつした)を裏返(うらがえ)しにして洗濯(せんたく)すると汚(よご)れが落(お)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(うらがえ)しにして中身(なかみ)を確認(かくにん)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(いか)りは愛情(あいじょう)の裏返(うらがえ)しだ。
That anger is the flip side of love.
厳(きび)しさは期待(きたい)の裏返(うらがえ)しだと思(おも)う。
I think the strictness is the flip side of high expectations.
彼女(かのじょ)の冷(つめ)たい態度(たいど)は本当(ほんとう)は寂(さび)しさの裏返(うらがえ)しなのかもしれない。
Her cold attitude might actually be the reverse side of loneliness.

裏返(うらがえ)し has both a physical meaning (turning inside out) and a figurative one (the flip side of something).

SENSE 1 — PHYSICAL:

  • 裏返(うらがえ)しにする: to turn inside out/upside down
  • 裏返(うらがえ)しに着(き)る: to wear inside out
  • 裏返(うらがえ)しに干(ほ)す: to hang out to dry inside out

Commonly used with clothing, pockets, and fabric items.

SENSE 2 — FIGURATIVE:
The pattern Aの裏返(うらがえ)し means "the flip side of A" — implying that a seemingly negative quality is actually a manifestation of something else.

Related words

The verb 裏返(うらがえ)す means to turn something inside out or to flip it over.

Related Words

Compare: 逆様(さかさま) (upside down, reverse)
Compare: 裏向(うらむ)き (face down)
general
Added 2026.2.27 19:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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