あべこべ

あ

べ

こ

べ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

opposite; reverse; back-to-front

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes something being the wrong way around, reversed in order, or opposite to what is expected. Often used for physical orientation or logical reversal.

靴くつをあべこべに履はいてしまった。
I put my shoes on the wrong feet.
説せつ明めいがあべこべで、何なにが正ただしいのかわからない。
The explanation is backwards, so I don't know what's correct.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉があべこべになるfor something to end up reversed or mixed up
靴くつがあべこべになっている。
The shoes are on the wrong feet.
あべこべに〈動どう詞し〉to do something the wrong way around
靴くつを左さ右ゆうあべこべに履はいてしまった。
I put my shoes on backwards without realizing.
〈事こと〉があべこべだsomething is the reverse of how it should be
話はなしの順じゅん序じょがあべこべだ。
The order of the story is backwards.

Related words

逆ぎゃくN3
逆 is a neutral, formal word for 'opposite' or 'reverse', while あべこべ is a colloquial, mimetic word stressing a comically mixed-up or swapped state.
反はん対たいN4
反対 covers both physical reversal and opposition of opinion, whereas あべこべ is limited to things being physically or logically turned the wrong way.
逆さかさN2
逆さ specifically means upside-down or inverted, while あべこべ more broadly covers things swapped or in the wrong order, not just flipped vertically.
正せい反はん対たい
あべこべ is a casual word for things being reversed or mixed up (like shoes on the wrong feet), while 正反対 is more formal and describes two things being exact opposites in nature or character.
逆さかしま
あべこべ is a colloquial way to say two or more things are mixed up in reversed order, while 逆しま is more literary and can apply to a single thing being inverted.

Written forms

あべこべUsage93%
Kana-only mimetic word; no kanji spelling is given.
アベコベUsage7%

Etymology

A mimetic word of uncertain origin. The exact derivation is unclear, but it is thought to be a sound-symbolic formation expressing reversal or inversion.