Translation guide
The English word 'flip' covers several distinct actions: turning something over quickly, tossing something so it spins in the air, quickly browsing through pages, and suddenly changing one's opinion or mood. Japanese uses different verbs for each of these situations.
To turn something over with a quick motion, such as flipping a pancake, a switch, or a card.
The most common and versatile verb for flipping something over. It implies a quick, often complete inversion.
Flip the pancake.
Please flip the card over and look.
Specifically means to turn something over to its reverse side. Often used for flipping clothes inside out or turning a page over.
I flip the shirt inside out to wash it.
Used for flipping something shut with a light slapping sound, like a flip phone or a book.
He flipped his phone shut.
To throw something lightly so that it turns over in the air, like flipping a coin or a pancake in a pan.
Means to flip or flick something with a finger, often used for flipping a coin.
Let's flip a coin to decide.
Literally 'throw upward', used when tossing something into the air so it flips, like a pancake.
Describes making something spin or flip around quickly, often with a wrist motion.
He flipped the pen around.
To look through the pages of a book, magazine, or channels on TV quickly.
To suddenly change one's mind, opinion, or emotional state, often in a way that seems unpredictable.
A straightforward way to say 'flip' in the sense of a sudden change. Can be used for opinions, moods, or situations.
His opinion flipped suddenly.
An idiomatic expression meaning to flip-flop or do a complete about-face in attitude or opinion, often with a negative connotation.
Slang for suddenly losing one's temper or 'flipping out' in anger.
Do not use a single Japanese word for all meanings of 'flip'. For example, 'flip a house' (buy and resell quickly) is not expressed with any of these verbs; it would be 転売する (てんばいする). Always match the verb to the specific action.
Flip the pancake in the frying pan.
He flipped his attitude as if turning over his palm.
He flipped out over a small thing.