Translation guide
This English phrase has both literal and figurative meanings. The literal meaning is a physical action, while the figurative meaning involves abandoning, rejecting, or ignoring someone or something. Japanese uses different expressions for each.
To rotate your body so that your back faces a person or object.
The most direct and common way to say 'turn one's back on' in a physical sense. It can be used for people or things.
彼は私に背を向けた。
He turned his back on me.
She stood with her back to the window.
Literally 'face behind', this is a more general way to say turn around or face the back. It can be used when the focus is on the direction rather than the back itself.
後ろを向いてください。
Please turn your back (to me).
To stop supporting or being involved with a person, often in a time of need; to forsake.
Means to abandon or desert someone, often with a nuance of leaving them in a difficult situation. Stronger than simply ignoring.
友達を見捨てることはできない。
I can't turn my back on my friend.
彼は困っている家族を見捨てた。
He turned his back on his family when they were in trouble.
Also used figuratively to mean turning away from someone emotionally or cutting ties. Often implies a deliberate rejection.
彼は過去に背を向けて新しい人生を始めた。
He turned his back on the past and started a new life.
Literally 'look the other way', this means to ignore or snub someone, often with a sense of coldness or indifference. More casual.
Similar to 見捨てる but often implies giving up on someone or something, abandoning hope. Slightly more formal or literary.
To refuse to accept or engage with something abstract, like a belief, tradition, or responsibility.
Works for abstract things as well, meaning to turn away from or reject them.
彼は伝統に背を向けた。
He turned his back on tradition.
A straightforward verb meaning 'to refuse' or 'to reject'. Less metaphorical, more direct.
彼はその申し出を拒否した。
He turned his back on the offer (refused it).
Means 'to ignore'. Suitable when 'turn one's back on' means to disregard or pay no attention to something.
彼は警告を無視した。
He turned his back on the warnings (ignored them).
見捨てる emphasizes abandoning someone in need, often with emotional weight. 背を向ける is more about cutting ties or rejecting, and can be used for both people and abstract things. 見捨てる is stronger and more negative.
彼は私を見捨てた。
He abandoned me (left me when I needed him).
彼は私に背を向けた。
He turned his back on me (rejected me, cut me off).
背を向ける can be both literal and figurative. Context usually makes it clear. If you want to be unambiguous about physical turning, you can add 物理的に (physically) or use 後ろを向く.
She turned her back on me (ignored me coldly).
医者にも見放された患者
a patient who was given up on even by the doctors (turned his back on by doctors)