Readings: ギャク (Onyomi), さか, さから.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: reverse, inverse, opposite, against
Phono-semantic compound (形声): 辶 (walk, movement) + 屰 (inverted, standing on one’s head). The combination suggests ‘to go against’ or ‘to reverse direction’.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 逆 has 9 strokes. It starts with the 辶 radical, followed by the top and then the bottom components. Pay attention to the correct order and direction of each stroke, especially for the 辶 radical.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 辶 (しんにょう) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | G5 (Grade 5) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ギャク (gyaku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- さか (saka)
- さからう (sakarau)
Common Words Using 逆
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 逆行 | ぎゃっこう | retrogression, going backward |
| 逆転 | ぎゃくてん | sudden change, reversal (of a situation) |
| 逆流 | ぎゃくりゅう | counter-current, adverse current, reverse flow |
| 逆説 | ぎゃくせつ | paradox |
| 逆襲 | ぎゃくしゅう | counterattack |
| 逆境 | ぎゃっきょう | adversity, hard times |
| 逆光 | ぎゃっこう | backlight |
| 逆効果 | ぎゃくこうか | adverse effect, counterproductive |
| 逆算 | ぎゃくさん | backward calculation, reverse calculation |
| 逆輸入 | ぎゃくゆにゅう | re-importation |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 逆さま | さかさま | upside down, inverted |
| 逆らう | さからう | to go against, to disobey, to oppose |
| 逆立ち | さかだち | handstand |
| 逆手 | さかて | reverse grip, backhand (in sports) |
| 逆毛 | さかげ | hair standing on end, ruffled hair (against the grain) |
| 逆縁 | さかえん | (in Buddhism) a child dying before its parents; an unexpected or unusual relationship |
| 逆戻り | さかもどり | going back, regression, relapse |
| 逆張り | さかばり | contrarian investing, going against the market trend |
| 逆上せる | のぼせる | to be flush with excitement/anger, to get carried away |
| 逆恨み | さかうらみ | resentment against someone who has done one a favor |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 逆の方向へ進んでください。
Kana: ぎゃくのほうこうへすすんでください。
Romaji: Gyaku no hōkō e susunde kudasai.
English: Please proceed in the opposite direction.
Japanese: 彼は会社の決定に逆らった。
Kana: かれはかいしゃのけっていにさからった。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha no kettei ni sakaratta.
English: He went against the company’s decision.
Japanese: 試合は逆転勝ちで終わった。
Kana: しあいはぎゃくてんがちでおわった。
Romaji: Shiai wa gyakuten-gachi de owatta.
English: The game ended with a come-from-behind victory.
Japanese: その絵は逆さまに飾られていた。
Kana: そのえはさかさまにかざられていた。
Romaji: Sono e wa sakasama ni kazararete ita.
English: That painting was displayed upside down.
Japanese: 時流に逆行する。
Kana: じりゅうにぎゃっこうする。
Romaji: Jiryū ni gyakkō suru.
English: To go against the current trend.
Japanese: 彼は困難な逆境を乗り越えた。
Kana: かれはこんなんなぎゃっきょうをのりこえた。
Romaji: Kare wa konnan na gyakkyō o norikoeta.
English: He overcame difficult adversity.
Japanese: この薬は逆効果になることがあります。
Kana: このくすりはぎゃくこうかになることがあります。
Romaji: Kono kusuri wa gyaku-kōka ni naru koto ga arimasu.
English: This medicine can sometimes have the opposite effect.
Japanese: 子供たちは公園で逆立ちをして遊んだ。
Kana: こどもたちはこうえんでさかだちをしてあそんだ。
Romaji: Kodomotachi wa kōen de sakadachi o shite asonda.
English: The children played by doing handstands in the park.
Japanese: 彼の発言は人々の意見と逆だった。
Kana: かれのはつげんはひとびとのいけんときゃくだった。
Romaji: Kare no hatsugen wa hitobito no iken to gyaku datta.
English: His statement was contrary to people’s opinions.
Japanese: 川の流れに逆らって泳ぐ。
Kana: かわのながれにさからっておよぐ。
Romaji: Kawa no nagare ni sakaratte oyogu.
English: To swim against the current of the river.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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