Japanese word

覆す

Pronunciation

Romajikutsugaesu

Meaning

  • verboverturn

Example

裁判所はその判決を覆しました。sai ban sho wa so no han ketsu o kutsugae shi ma shi ta

The court overturned the ruling.

Illustration for 覆す (overturn)

More examples

委員会は長年の定説を覆しました。i in kai wa naga nen no tei setsu o kutsugae shi ma shi ta

The committee overturned a long-held theory.

Core concept

It conveys a forceful reversal that makes a physical object fall over or makes an established decision, belief, or power lose its position.

Common phrases

  • 判決を覆すhan ketsu o kutsugae su

    overturn a ruling

  • 定説を覆すtei setsu o kutsugae su

    overturn an established theory

  • 常識を覆すjō shiki o kutsugae su

    overturn conventional wisdom

Similar words

ひっくり返すhikkurikaesu: To reverse a result, decision, or situation through a direct and forceful action.
覆るkutsugaeru: A judgment, theory, or expectation changes greatly and is no longer accepted as before.

Definition in Japanese

物を転倒させたり、決まっていた判決・決定・説などをくつがえしたり、政権を倒したりする。mono o ten tō sa se ta ri ki ma tte i ta han ketsu ket tei setsu na do o ku tsu ga e shi ta ri sei ken o tao shi ta ri su ru

Word origin

覆る (kutsugaeru, "be overturned") is a native Japanese intransitive verb, and 覆す (kutsugaesu, "overturn") is its transitive counterpart, meaning to cause that change.

Usage tips

  • In formal Japanese news and legal writing, 覆す (kutsugaesu) often appears with judgments, theories, or expectations, marking a major reversal rather than a minor change.

Other meanings

  • capsizeverb
  • overthrowverb

Opposites

  • 維持するijisuruupholdverb

Word lists with this word