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裏側 (うらがわ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

裏うら側がわ

う

ら

が

わ

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

reverse side; back; other side; behind the scenes

Refers to the opposite or hidden side of a physical object, or figuratively to the hidden aspect of a situation. The figurative use is common in news and business contexts.

コインの裏うら側

がわ

に

は

鷲わし

の

絵え

が

描えが

か

れ

て

いる

。

An eagle is depicted on the reverse side of the coin.

この事じ件けんの裏うら側がわには複ふく雑ざつな事じ情じょうがある。

There are complicated circumstances behind the scenes of this incident.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の裏うら側がわを見みるto look at the back/reverse side of something
カードの裏うら側がわを見みてください。
Please look at the back of the card.
裏うら側がわに回まわるto go around to the back (of a building, object, etc.)
建たて物ものの裏うら側がわに回まわって入いり口ぐちを探さがした。
I went around to the back of the building looking for an entrance.
〈事こと〉の裏うら側がわを探さぐるto dig into the hidden side of an affair or event
記き者しゃは事じ件けんの裏うら側がわを探さぐろうとした。
The reporter tried to dig into the hidden side of the incident.
裏うら側がわを明あきらかにするto reveal what's behind the scenes
ドキュメンタリーは政せい治じの裏うら側がわを明あきらかにした。
The documentary revealed the hidden side of politics.

Kanji

裏back, amidst, in
側side, lean, oppose

Related words· 6

裏うらN4
裏 is the broader, more general word for 'back' or 'reverse', while 裏側 specifically emphasizes the side or facet of something.
背はい面めん
背面 is a more technical, formal term for the back surface of an object, while 裏側 is the everyday word and also covers figurative 'hidden' meanings.
舞ぶ台たい裏うら
舞台裏 literally means 'backstage' and is used only figuratively for hidden circumstances, while 裏側 can describe both a physical back side and figurative hidden aspects.
内うち幕まく
内幕 refers specifically to secret inside information about an affair, whereas 裏側 more broadly covers any hidden side, physical or figurative.

Show 2 more

裏り面めん
裏側 is a more colloquial, concrete word for the back of an object, while 裏面 is more formal and can also be used abstractly.
裏うら面めん
裏側 is a broader, everyday word for 'the other side' of almost anything, while 裏面 specifically refers to the flat reverse side of an object, document, or recording.

Opposites

表おもて側がわ
表側 is the front or visible side of something, the direct opposite of 裏側.

Don't confuse with

裏うら口ぐちN2
裏口 is a rear entrance or door, while 裏側 just means the back side or reverse of something and doesn't imply an entryway.

Word family

裏うら側がわ矯きょう正せい
lingual braces

Built from

裏うら+側がわ

Written forms

裏うら側がわUsage94%
Standard kanji spelling. High news frequency.
ウラ側がわUsage3%
search-only kanji form
うらがわUsage2%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
裏うらがわUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 裏 (ura, 'back, reverse') and 側 (gawa, 'side').

search-only kanji form

うら側がわUsage<1%

search-only kanji form