裏を返す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 裏を返す | 裏を返さない |
| Polite | 裏を返します | 裏を返しません |
| Past polite | 裏を返しました | 裏を返しませんでした |
| Past | 裏を返した | 裏を返さなかった |
| Te-form | 裏を返して | 裏を返さないで |
| Desire | 裏を返したい | 裏を返したくない |
| Potential | 裏を返せる | 裏を返せない |
| Passive | 裏を返される | 裏を返されない |
| Causative | 裏を返させる | 裏を返させない |
| Causative passive | 裏を返させられる | 裏を返させられない |
| Volitional | 裏を返そう | |
| Polite volitional | 裏を返しましょう | |
| Imperative | 裏を返せ | 裏を返すな |
| Conditional | 裏を返せば | 裏を返さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 裏を返したら | 裏を返さなかったら |
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
I turn the shirt inside out and hang it to dry.
When I turned the card over, a different picture was drawn on it.
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'.
Put another way, that is proof he feels responsible.
visit the same prostitute or geisha again
Archaic and highly specific to the pleasure quarters; not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
In the Edo-period pleasure quarters, many customers would visit the same courtesan a second time.