逆進させる
gyakushin saseru
In Japanese, the verb 'reverse' can be translated as 逆進させる (gyakushin saseru) or 逆転させる depending on the context.
Meaning: to cause a mechanism or vehicle to operate or move in the opposite directions (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 逆進させる | gyakushin saseru |
| 逆転させる | gyakuten saseru |
The phrase is used to describe causing a mechanism or vehicle to operate or move in the opposite direction. Related terms like 逆進する describe the act of moving in the opposite direction, while 逆の and あべこべの are adjectives used for something that has the order of its constituents moved backwards.
Which one should you use?
逆転させる is used when reversing a situation, a score or an order, rather than physical movement.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both 逆進させる and 逆転させる use the causative suffix -させる to indicate that an external force or operator is causing the reversal.
How do you pronounce it?
gyakushin saseru
Did you know?
- In a Japanese car, the 'Reverse' gear is often labeled with the letter 'R' on the gear shift, but the instruction to 'go into reverse' would use the verb バックする (bakku suru) derived from the English word 'back'.
- The kanji used in 逆 (gyaku) also contains the meaning of 'to rebel' or 'to go against', which is why it is used in words describing an uprising.
- While 逆転 means to reverse a situation, the phrase 逆転の発想 describes a 'paradigm shift' or thinking about a problem from the opposite perspective to find a solution.
Examples in context
- 逆に進むGo in reverse
- 歩くならその逆が正しいIf you walk, the opposite is correct
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reverse” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
