expression, godan verb (-su)
turn inside out; turn over; flip
Physical action of turning something so the other side faces up or out, such as clothing, paper, or objects.
See also: 裏返す
シャツを裏を返して干す。
I turn the shirt inside out and hang it to dry.
カードを裏を返すと、違う絵が描いてあった。
When I turned the card over, a different picture was drawn on it.
expression, godan verb (-su)
look at from another angle; put it the other way
Figurative use, often in the form 裏を返せば, meaning 'looking at it from the opposite perspective' or 'in other words'.
裏を返せば、それは彼が責任を感じている証拠だ。
Put another way, that is proof he feels responsible.
expression, godan verb (-su)
visit the same prostitute or geisha again
Archaic and highly specific to the pleasure quarters; not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
江戸時代の遊郭では、同じ遊女を裏を返す客も多かった。
In the Edo-period pleasure quarters, many customers would visit the same courtesan a second time.