opposite side; reverse side; underside
Physical opposite or hidden side of a flat object, such as paper, cloth, or a surface. Antonym: 表 (おもて).
Antonyms: 表 (おもて)
紙の裏にメモを書いた。
I wrote a note on the back of the paper.
この布は裏が滑らかだ。
The reverse side of this cloth is smooth.
Spatial back or rear side of a building, object, or location.
家の裏に小さな庭がある。
There is a small garden behind the house.
建物の裏に駐車場があります。
There is a parking lot at the back of the building.
Inner lining of clothing, bags, or containers; the inside surface.
コートの裏が破れてしまった。
The lining of my coat has torn.
箱の裏には何も書いていない。
Nothing is written on the inside of the box.
hidden side; behind the scenes; unknown circumstances
Abstract hidden aspect: secret dealings, offstage activities, or the side of a person or situation not openly shown. Sense 5 emphasizes personality or hidden facts.
彼は裏で何をしているかわからない。
I don't know what he is doing behind the scenes.
事件の裏には複雑な事情があった。
There were complicated circumstances behind the incident.
彼女には優しい裏の顔がある。
She has a hidden gentle side.
proof; supporting evidence
Used in the compound 裏付け (うらづけ) meaning corroboration or backing. Rarely used alone in this sense.
See also: 裏付け
その主張の裏を取る必要がある。
That claim needs to be verified with supporting evidence.
Logical opposite or reverse of a prediction, common sense, or hypothesis. Often appears in the phrase 裏をかく (outwit, do the opposite of what is expected).
See also: 裏をかく
彼の行動は予想の裏をかいた。
His actions went against expectations.
常識の裏を考えてみる。
I try to think of the opposite of common sense.
bottom of an inning; last half of an inning
Baseball term for the second half of an inning when the home team bats. Antonym: 表 (おもて).
Antonyms: 表 (おもて)
9回の裏で逆転した。
They turned the game around in the bottom of the ninth inning.
I wrote the phone number on the back of the paper.
I went around to the back of the shop to put out the trash.
A secret deal was being made behind the scenes.
Reading between the lines of his words, he actually seems opposed.
A go-ahead home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning.
裏 refers to the back side or reverse of something (often hidden from view), whereas 奥 is about depth and interiority rather than being on the opposite side.
裏 is the general word for the 'back/reverse side' of anything, while 裏目 is a narrower term often tied to specific contexts like knitting or the idiom 裏目に出る.
back; reverse side · B-side; flip side · secret levels; hidden content; post-game
supporting evidence; backing; proof
inside out; upside down · flip side; opposite; reverse
opposite; contrary; reverse · front and back; back to back; inseparable
front and back; inside and outside; both sides · inside out; wrong side out · two-facedness; double-dealing; duplicity · public face and hidden reality; outward appearance and actual condition; inner workings
backstage; behind the scenes
hill behind a house or village · shady side of a mountain · envious; jealous
behind-the-scenes worker; backstage crew; offstage support · lady consort; concubine of a noble
attic; loft
support; back up; substantiate; corroborate
inside story; behind-the-scenes account
back door; rear entrance · backdoor; illicit; unauthorized
reverse side; back · opposite of the expected; backfire · purl stitch
back; rear; behind
lining · landlocked parcel; land without road access
backyard; rear garden
bribe; payoff · secret fund; slush fund; money for bribery
lining; backing · support; backing up; bolstering
back street; side street; alley
back lane; back street; byway · unfair means; dishonest means; underhanded way
be turned inside out; be reversed · betray; double-cross; turn one's coat · crack into falsetto; squeak; croak
falsetto
turn inside out; turn over; flip
back gate; rear gate
competing program in the same timeslot; counterprogram
Urasenke school of tea ceremony
dressing room; green room; backstage · inside story; behind-the-scenes details; hidden circumstances