Japanese

ふりかえる
Meaning: to look back; to reflect
Part of Speech: Verb

Listen to pronunciation

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 振り返る 振り返ない
Polite 振り返ます 振り返ません
Past 振り返た 振り返なかった
Polite + Past 振り返ました 振り返ませんでした
Te-form 振り返て 振り返なくて
Potential 振り返られる 振り返られない
Passive 振り返られる 振り返られない
Causative 振り返させる 振り返させない
Imperative 振り返ろ 振り返るな

Handwriting

振
り
返
る

Example sentences

Sometimes I stop and look back on my life so far.
過去の失敗を振り返ります。
Looking back on past failures.
二人はこれまでの自分たちの歩みを静かに振り返った。
The two of them quietly looked back on their journey so far.
うしろを振り返らないで、前を向いて歩こう。
Don't look back, let's walk looking forward.
彼は誰もが振り返るような美青年だ。
He is such a handsome young man that everyone looks back at him.
歴史を振り返ると、国家の世運隆替は避けられないものだと感じる。
Looking back at history, I feel that the rise and fall of nations is inevitable.

Usage Notes

Can mean literally turning one's head to look back, or figuratively reflecting on the past.

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