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番狂わせ (ばんくるわせ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
upset ; unexpected result ; surprise
Refers to an outcome that defies expectations, especially in sports, competitions, or rankings. Often used when a lower-ranked opponent defeats a favorite.
結けっ
果か
に
会かい
場じょう
が
どよめい
た
。
The crowd buzzed at the unexpected result.
Kanji 番 turn, number in a series Similar words 波は 乱らん 波乱 refers to turmoil or dramatic developments in a broader sense, while 番狂わせ specifically highlights an outcome that overturns expectations, especially in competitive settings.
逆ぎゃく 転てん 逆転 means a reversal of fortune or a comeback, whereas 番狂わせ emphasizes the surprising nature of the result itself, not necessarily a mid-game turnaround.
Etymology Compound of 番 (ban, 'watch' or 'turn') and 狂わせ (kuruwase, the stem of 狂わせる, 'to make go wrong'). Literally 'making the order go wrong', it came to mean an upset or unexpected result.
