1.
paradoxical; ironic; seemingly contradictory
Describes something that appears contradictory or goes against common sense, but may contain a deeper truth. Used for situations, statements, or outcomes that are the opposite of what one would expect.
逆説的な言い方だ。
That's a paradoxical way of putting it.
Composed of 逆説 (paradox) and 的 (suffix making na-adjectives). Describes situations or statements that seem contradictory but may reveal a truth.
Common collocations
- 逆説的に: paradoxically (adverbial form)
- 逆説的な表現: paradoxical expression
- 逆説的な結果: paradoxical result
- 逆説的だが: paradoxically (sentence opener)
Usage
Often used as a sentence-opening hedge: 逆説的だが... ("Paradoxically,...") to introduce a statement that goes against expectations.