裏切り者
uragirimono[ɯ̟ɾa̠ɡʲiɾʲimo̞no̞]
The English phrase backstabber is translated into Japanese as 裏切り者 (uragirimono).
裏切り者 is a straightforward and widely used word for backstabber in Japanese, referring to a traitor or hypocrite.
Meaning: a traitor or hypocrite (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 裏切り者 is derived from the verbal noun 裏切り (betrayal). The word is a noun and does not change its form based on its grammatical role in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
uragirimono
Did you know?
- The first character in 裏切り者, 裏, means 'back' or 'reverse side', but it also refers to the lining of a piece of clothing. To betray someone is conceptually similar to showing the hidden interior of a garment.
- In Japanese culture, the concept of 'honne' (true feelings) and 'tatemae' (public face) creates a social environment where avoiding the label of 裏切り者 often requires maintaining a polite facade even when in disagreement.
- In Japanese history, a traitor was often called 奸臣 (kanshin), a term specifically reserved for corrupt or treacherous officials in a court.
Examples in context
- 彼は裏切り者だ。He is a backstabber.
- 彼は裏切り行為をする人だと思う。I think he is a person who commits acts of betrayal.
- なんて裏切り野郎だ！What a backstabbing jerk!
- 裏切り者は許せない。Uragirimono wa yurusenai.I cannot forgive a backstabber.
- あいつは最低の裏切り者だ。Aitsu wa saite no uragirimono da.That guy is the worst backstabber.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a mutual acquaintance who leaked a secret.
- 健太 Kenta信じていたのに、あいつは裏切り者だったよ。Shinjite ita noni, aitsu wa uragirimono datta yo.I trusted him, but he was a backstabber.
- 陽葵 Himari本当にひどい話ね。Hontou ni hidoi hanashi ne.That is really awful.
- 健太 Kentaもう二度と彼とは会いたくない。Mou nido to kare to wa aitakunai.I never want to see him again.
- 陽葵 Himariそうね。あんな裏切り者は忘れたほうがいいわ。Sou ne. Anna uragirimono wa wasureta hou ga ii wa.You're right. You're better off forgetting a backstabber like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “backstabber” translations and entries 裏切り者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
