Translation guide
How to express 'roll over' in Japanese, covering physical rolling, turning over in bed, and figurative uses like yielding or reinvesting.
To turn one's body over, such as rolling over in bed or a dog rolling over.
Most common for a person rolling over in bed. Literally 'to strike a turn in sleep'.
夜中に何度も寝返りを打った。
I rolled over many times during the night.
Verb meaning 'to turn over in bed'. Slightly more casual than 寝返りを打つ.
赤ちゃんが寝返った。
The baby rolled over.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to roll' or 'to roll over' (e.g., a ball, a person on the ground). For deliberate rolling, use 転がす (transitive).
犬が芝生の上で転がった。
The dog rolled over on the grass.
Means 'to be overturned' or 'to flip over', often accidentally. Can be used for a person or object.
彼はソファからひっくり返った。
He rolled over off the sofa.
To flip or turn something over, like a pancake or a piece of paper.
Transitive verb meaning 'to turn over' or 'to flip' (e.g., a card, a pancake). Focuses on revealing the other side.
パンケーキを裏返してください。
Please flip the pancake over.
Transitive verb meaning 'to roll' something. Used for rolling a ball or log, not typically for flipping flat objects.
To submit or give up without resistance.
Literally 'to surrender easily'. Natural way to express rolling over in a confrontation.
彼は交渉で簡単に降参した。
He rolled over in the negotiations.
Means 'to lose easily' or 'to give up without a fight'.
彼は議論であっさり負けた。
He rolled over in the argument.
To extend or reinvest funds, such as rolling over a CD or loan.
Specifically means 'to refinance' or 'to roll over a loan'. Common in financial contexts.
住宅ローンを借り換えた。
I rolled over my mortgage.
Loanword from English, used in finance for rolling over investments or contracts.
定期預金をロールオーバーした。
I rolled over the time deposit.
Directly translating 'roll over' as ロールオーバー is only appropriate in financial contexts. For physical rolling, use the verbs above.
Transitive verb meaning 'to overturn' or 'to flip over'. More forceful than 裏返す.
彼はテーブルをひっくり返した。
He flipped the table over.
丸太を転がして動かした。
We rolled the log over to move it.