Japanese word

裏返し

Pronunciation

Romajiuragaeshi

Meaning

  • nouninside out

Example

靴下が裏返しです。kutsu shita ga ura gae shi de su

The socks are inside out.

Illustration for 裏返し (inside out)

More examples

靴下を裏返しのまま、引き出しにしまわないでください。kutsu shita o ura gae shi no ma ma hi ki da shi ni shi ma wa na i de ku da sa i

Please do not put the socks away while they are inside out.

Core concept

Means that the side normally kept inside faces outward, so the object shows its reverse surface instead of its usual outside.

Common phrases

  • 裏返しにするura gae shi ni su ru

    turn inside out

  • 裏返しになるura gae shi ni na ru

    turn inside out

  • 裏返しに着るura gae shi ni ki ru

    wear inside out

Similar words

裏表uraomote: A condition in which an object's inner and outer surfaces are reversed.
逆さまsakasama: A position in which an object has its top and bottom reversed.

Definition in Japanese

物の本来の外側と内側が反対になっていること。mono no hon rai no soto gawa to uchi gawa ga han tai ni na tte i ru ko to

Word origin

裏返し (uragaeshi, "inside out") is formed from 裏 (ura, "inner side") and 返し (gaeshi, "turning back"), the noun form of 返す (kaesu, "to turn back").

Usage tips

  • English distinguishes inside out from upside down: inside out reverses an object's inner and outer surfaces, while upside down changes its vertical orientation.

Other meanings

  • upside downnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word