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道Nihongo Path
翻

翻·flip over, translate

On-yomi
ホン
Kun-yomi
ひるがえ(る)ひるがえ(す)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

18 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
翻訳ほんやくtranslation
翻すひるがえすto reverse (a decision); to flutter
翻るひるがえるto flutter, to turn over
翻意ほんいchanging one's mind

Example sentences

  1. この小説は英語に翻訳された。

    このしょうせつはえいごにほんやくされた。

    This novel has been translated into English.

  2. 彼は前言をあっさり翻した。

    かれはぜんげんをあっさりひるがえした。

    He casually went back on what he had said.

  3. 屋上で旗が風に翻っている。

    おくじょうではたがかぜにひるがえっている。

    A flag is fluttering in the wind on the roof.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 翻す as ほんす — the kun-reading is ひるがえす
  • 翻訳 is written translation; 通訳 (つうやく) is interpreting

Memory aid

Picture it

Feathers 羽 on the right — wings flipping over in the air, which is why it means both 'flip' and 'turn into another language'.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 翻 mean?