Japanese word

宙返り

Pronunciation

Romajichūgaeri

Meaning

  • nounsomersault

Example

子どもが芝生で宙返りをしました。ko do mo ga shibafu de chū gae ri o shi ma shi ta

The child did a somersault on the grass.

Illustration for 宙返り (somersault)

More examples

体育の授業で、宙返りの練習をしました。tai iku no ju gyō de chū gae ri no ren shū o shi ma shi ta

I practiced somersaults in physical education class.

Core concept

Refers to rotating the body completely in the air before coming down in its original direction.

Common phrases

  • 宙返りをするchū gae ri o su ru

    do a somersault

Similar words

とんぼ返りtonbogaeri: A complete forward or backward turn of the body through the air.
でんぐり返しdengurigaeshi: A familiar term for a body turning over, especially in children's play.

Definition in Japanese

跳び上がった体を空中で一回転させて着地すること。to bi a ga tta karada o kū chū de ichi kai ten sa se te chaku chi su ru ko to

Word origin

宙返り (chūgaeri) is formed from 宙 (chū, "midair") and 返り (gaeri, "returning"), linking the movement with a return through the air.

Usage tips

  • English commonly uses the phrase "do a somersault," while the verb form also appears in descriptions such as "the gymnast somersaults onto the mat."

Other meanings

  • loop-the-loopnoun

Word lists with this word