reverse

Compared meaning: opposite or turned the other way (adjective).

比较义项：相反的、颠倒的（形容词）。

• reverse 本词

  Reverse is the neutral, general-purpose word for something facing or ordered the opposite way (reverse order, reverse gear); it also doubles as a common verb.

  reverse是最中性、最通用的词，指方向或顺序上相反（如reverse order表示顺序颠倒、reverse gear表示倒挡）；它也常用作动词。

  Try reading the sentence in reverse order, starting from the last word.

  试着按相反的顺序读这句话，从最后一个词开始读。

• backward

  Backward describes physical movement or orientation toward the back, the opposite way one is facing or going; it is concrete and not used for abstract statements or arguments.

  backward描述身体上朝后的移动或朝向，即与面对或前进方向相反的一侧；它是具体的动作方向词，不用于描述抽象的陈述或论点。

  She gave a backward glance at the empty house before driving off.

  她开车离开前，朝那栋空房子回头看了一眼。

• converse

  Converse is a formal word for a statement, argument or situation that is exactly reversed, often seen in logic as 'the converse of a proposition'; it is not used for physical direction.

  converse是较正式的词，用来描述完全颠倒的陈述、论点或情形，常见于逆命题等逻辑表达；它不用于表示身体上的方向。

  In geometry, the converse of a true statement is not always true.

  在几何学中，一个真命题的逆命题并不一定成立。

Reverse, backward, and converse all mean opposite, but differ. Reverse is the neutral word for the opposite way. Backward means physical direction toward the back. Converse is formal, for a statement exactly reversed. Converse can mean 'to talk', and backward can mean underdeveloped; not compared.

这三个词在这个意义上都表示“相反的”，但语气和使用场合不同：reverse最通用中性，backward偏重身体动作或方位上朝后，converse则多用于正式场合，描述完全颠倒的情形或命题。这里不比较converse表示“交谈”的动词义（如与朋友交谈），也不比较backward表示“发展迟缓、落后的”这一义项。

Compared meaning: the opposite of what was expected or said (noun).

比较义项：相反（名词，与预期或所述情况相反的情况）。

• reverse 本词

  Reverse states neutrally that something is the opposite of what was expected or said, common in phrases like 'quite the reverse' or 'the reverse is true'.

  reverse 主要用于客观地陈述某事与预期或所述相反，常见于“quite the reverse”（恰恰相反）或“the reverse is true”（情况恰恰相反）等短语中。

  Everyone thought sales would drop, but the reverse happened.

  大家都以为销量会下降，但实际情况恰恰相反。

• contrary

  Contrary is typically used to contradict or correct a previous statement, especially in the fixed phrase 'on the contrary' or 'contrary to popular belief', with a more argumentative tone.

  contrary 通常用于反驳或纠正之前的说法，尤其常见于固定短语“on the contrary”（恰恰相反）或“contrary to popular belief”（与普遍看法相反），语气上更带有辩驳色彩。

  He isn't lazy at all — on the contrary, he works harder than anyone.

  他一点也不懒——恰恰相反，他比任何人都努力。

Reverse and contrary both name the opposite of what was expected or said. Reverse states this neutrally, as in "quite the reverse". Contrary is used to contradict or correct a previous statement, especially in "on the contrary".

这两个词都可以表示“相反的情况”，常出现在固定搭配中，但语气和用法略有不同：reverse 多用于客观陈述结果与预期相反，如“quite the reverse”；contrary 更常用于反驳或纠正前面的说法，如“on the contrary”。reverse 和 contrary 还有其他词性/用法（如动词“倒车”、形容词“相反的”），这里不作比较。