The Meaning of furikaeru [振り返る] In Japanese

振り返る
ふりかえる
Romaji: furikaeru N3

What does 振り返る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to turn around and look back, to reflect, to review

Definition

What does 振り返る mean? It means to turn one’s gaze back toward something, often to reflect on past events or reconsider actions, and to review or reassess a situation.

Type

verb (godan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • physical act of turning the head or body to look behind you
  • reflecting on past events or experiences
  • reassessing or reconsidering plans, projects, or actions

Composition

  • 振: to shake or swing; indicates motion connected with turning
  • 返: to return, to come back; provides the sense of turning back
  • り: kana that links the elements and marks the stem
  • る: verb ending that marks the dictionary form of the godan verb

Usage

Used in both spoken and written Japanese, across formal and informal registers. In general, it describes looking back on past events or reviewing ongoing plans, and it can be used with a variety of objects to specify what is being looked back upon.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: pair the idea of shaking (振) with turning back (返) to look at the past; visualize a clock turning backward while you reflect on what happened.

Variations

  • 回顧する (kaikōsuru) — to review or reminisce
  • 思い返す (omoikaesu) — to recall or think back
  • 見返す (mikaesu) — to look back or compare favorably
  • 忘れる (wasureru) — antonym: to forget

Example Phrases

  • 電車を 待ちながら 私は 振り返る と 彼の 声が 聞こえる。
    Densha o machi nagara watashi wa furikaeru to kare no koe ga kikoeru.
    While waiting for the train, I turn around and hear his voice.
    Lista:
    • 電車を (Densha o) – the train
    • 待ちながら (machi nagara) – while waiting
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 振り返る (furikaeru) – turn around
    • と (to) – and
    • 彼の (kare no) – his
    • 声が (koe ga) – voice
    • 聞こえる (kikoeru) – hear
    Here 「振り返る」 means to turn around physically (look back), not to reflect on something.
振り返る