Translation guide
A backward somersault is a movement where you flip your body backward, either on the ground or in the air. In Japanese, the most common term is 後転 (こうてん) for a floor roll, while バク転 (バクてん) is used for a back handspring. For a backflip in the air, 後方宙返り (こうほうちゅうがえり) is used.
A basic gymnastic move where you roll backward over your head from a crouching or sitting position.
Standard term for a backward roll in gymnastics or physical education. Used for a controlled roll over the shoulders.
体育の授業で後転の練習をした。
We practiced backward rolls in PE class.
A more descriptive, less technical phrase meaning 'turning backward'. Can be used for a backward roll, especially in casual contexts.
子供が後ろ回りをして遊んでいる。
The child is playing by doing backward rolls.
A dynamic move where you jump backward onto your hands and then push off to land on your feet.
Common term for a back handspring in gymnastics, cheerleading, or street performance. Derived from 'back' + '転' (turn).
彼女は軽々とバク転を決めた。
She easily nailed a back handspring.
Formal gymnastics term for a back handspring. Very technical and rarely used outside official rulebooks.
競技規則には後方倒立回転跳びの難度が記載されている。
The competition rules describe the difficulty of the back handspring.
A somersault performed in the air without hands touching the ground, such as in diving, gymnastics, or acrobatics.
Standard term for a backflip or backward somersault in the air. Used in gymnastics, diving, and acrobatics.
体操選手が美しい後方宙返りを披露した。
The gymnast performed a beautiful backflip.
Abbreviated, casual term for a backflip. Common in street dance, parkour, or informal sports contexts.
彼はバック宙を軽くやってのけた。
He pulled off a backflip with ease.
後転 is a simple backward roll on the ground, often taught in elementary school PE. バク転 is a back handspring where hands touch the ground. 後方宙返り is a full backflip in the air with no hand contact. Using the wrong term can cause confusion, especially in sports contexts.
宙返り (ちゅうがえり) means 'somersault' in general and can refer to forward or backward flips. To specify backward, always use 後方宙返り or バック宙.