逆さかしま

さ

か

し

ま

Meanings

Describes something being the opposite way around, inverted, or turned upside down. Can be used literally or figuratively.

その絵えは逆さかしまに掛かけてあった。
The picture was hung upside down.
彼かれの言いうことはいつも逆さかしまだ。
What he says is always the reverse of the truth.

noun, na-adjective

unreasonable; absurd; wrong

Used for ideas, arguments, or situations that are contrary to reason or common sense. Often implies a perverse or twisted logic.

そんな逆さかしまな理り屈くつは通とおらない。
Such absurd reasoning won't hold water.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が逆さかしまになるfor something to end up upside down/reversed
写しゃ真しんが逆さかしまになっている。
The photo is upside down.
〈物もの〉を逆さかしまに〈動どう詞し〉to do something with an object turned upside down or reversed
靴くつを逆さかしまに履はいてしまった。
I put my shoes on backwards.
〈事こと〉は事じ実じつと逆さかしまだfor a story or claim to be the exact reverse of the facts
彼かれの話はなしは事じ実じつと逆さかしまだ。
His story is the exact opposite of the truth.
逆さかしまな〈事こと〉an absurd or perversely twisted idea/argument
それは逆さかしまな考かんがえ方かただ。
That's a twisted, absurd way of thinking.

Kanji

逆inverted, reverse, opposite
倒overthrow, fall, collapse

Related words

逆ぎゃくN3
逆 is the everyday, high-frequency word for 'reverse/opposite' used in countless compounds, while 逆しま is a more literary word emphasizing a complete or perverse inversion.
反はん対たいN4
反対 describes a neutral positional or directional opposite, whereas 逆しま often implies a more thorough, upside-down or morally twisted reversal.
あべこべN1sense 1
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.
理り不ふ尽じん sense 2
理不尽 focuses on something being unjust or illogical, while 逆しま (in this sense) stresses that the logic itself is twisted or backwards.

Written forms

逆さかしまUsage35%
Standard kanji spelling; the okurigana しま makes the reading clear.
さかしまUsage65%
倒さかしま
Rare kanji form; the reading さかしま is not obvious from this character alone.

Etymology

The word さかしま is derived from 逆 (さか, 'reverse') + しま, an old suffix indicating direction or state. The kanji 逆しま is a standard spelling, while 倒 is a rare alternative.