反る
かえる · kaeru · JLPT N3 · verb-godan
to warp
🐸 Sounds like kaeru, frog: a leaping frog's back curves and bends
The kanji 反 means against or reverse, as in 反対 (opposition). Something that warps bends back against its original shape. This verb is also commonly read そる (soru), as in a board that warps or a back that arches.
反 — hand 又 under cliff 厂
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) turning something over against a cliff or slope (厂), depicting the action of flipping or reversing. From this came the core meaning 'to turn over,' which extended to 'opposite,' 'contrary,' and 'rebel against.' The character is purely semantic, with no phonetic component.
そる · soru · JLPT N1 · verb-godan
to curve
🍌 反る = 反 (turn back, reverse) + る verb ending: to warp by turning back on itself
The kanji 反 means turn over or against, as in 反対 (opposite). 反る describes wood or metal bending back out of its flat shape.
反 — hand 又 under cliff 厂
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) turning something over against a cliff or slope (厂), depicting the action of flipping or reversing. From this came the core meaning 'to turn over,' which extended to 'opposite,' 'contrary,' and 'rebel against.' The character is purely semantic, with no phonetic component.