あべこべ

JLPT:N1
Frequency:
1

An onomatopoeic/mimetic word meaning that things are reversed, inverted, or back-to-front; can function as a noun or na-adjective.

Noun Taking 'の'Na-AdjectiveNounOnomatopoeic or Mimetic Word

Examples

棚の中の本があべこべに並んでいる。

The books on the shelf are arranged all mixed up/back-to-front.

説明があべこべで、何をすればいいか分からない。

The explanation was all mixed up, so I don't know what to do.

箱の中身があべこべになっていたので、元に戻した。

The contents of the box were all reversed, so I put them back.