# 日常/常日頃 Words where reversing the kanji changes the reading **URL:** \ **Category:** Kanji\ **Created:** [October 22, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374 "2018-10-22T12:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kyasurin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/kyasurin/32/71139_2.png) [@Kyasurin](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Kyasurin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/1 "2018-10-22T12:39:10Z")
For example: I am familiar with the word 日常（にちじょう） I just came across the word 常日頃, and assumed it would be read じょうにちごろ, but no! It’s つねひごろ. So that made me wonder, have you come across other examples of the reading changing a lot when the kanji are reversed? Feel free to share. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Leebo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leebo/32/439476_2.png) [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/2 "2018-10-22T12:42:44Z")
Like this? 切腹 腹切り ---
**Author:** ![Kyasurin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/kyasurin/32/71139_2.png) [@Kyasurin](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Kyasurin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/3 "2018-10-22T12:48:46Z")
Yes, that kind of a thing. Slightly less gruesome examples also welcome. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![plantron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/plantron/32/783203_2.png) [@plantron](https://community.wanikani.com/u/plantron)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/4 "2018-10-22T12:55:16Z")
This one is slightly less or more gruesome, depending on your mood. It’s less gruesome because it’s from WK level 15 It’s more gruesome because… what the heck, because Halloween! 人殺し and 殺人者 ---
**Author:** ![charlesfm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/charlesfm/32/77875_2.png) [@charlesfm](https://community.wanikani.com/u/charlesfm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/5 "2018-10-22T13:33:35Z")
凹凸 おうとつ 凸凹 でこぼこ ---
**Author:** ![Leebo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leebo/32/439476_2.png) [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/6 "2018-10-22T13:40:47Z")
> [@charlesfm](#): > > 凹凸 おうとつ > 凸凹 でこぼこ BTW, I remember this by when you turn each kanji 90 degrees to the right with 凸凹 you get what looks like a D and a B for でこぼこ. If it’s B and D, then it’s not でこぼこ. ---
**Author:** ![tessberg](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/tessberg/32/34712_2.png) [@tessberg](https://community.wanikani.com/u/tessberg)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/7 "2018-10-22T16:03:37Z")
before anyone else mentions it. it’s in wk so it’s a low hanging fruit. 登山 とざん 山登り やまのぼり Then there’s also 干満 かんまん 満ち干 みちひ … and I’m out of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![twktg](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@twktg](https://community.wanikani.com/u/twktg)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/8 "2018-10-22T16:03:59Z")
規定 きてい rule, regulation, provision, stipulation 定規 じょうぎ (measuring) ruler 母乳 ぼにゅう mother’s milk 乳母 うば wet nurse, nursing mother 屋上 おくじょう rooftop 上屋 うわや temporary roof, shelter 物品 ぶっぴん goods, article 品物 しなもの goods, article ---
**Author:** ![NickNickovich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/nicknickovich/32/201427_2.png) [@NickNickovich](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NickNickovich)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/9 "2018-10-22T18:24:10Z")
立腹 りっぷく 腹立つ はらだつ ---
**Author:** ![phyro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/phyro/32/67275_2.png) [@phyro](https://community.wanikani.com/u/phyro)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/10 "2018-10-25T13:06:16Z")
日本「にほん」 本日「ほんじつ」 Surprised no one mentioned this pair yet. ---
**Author:** ![NickNickovich](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/nicknickovich/32/201427_2.png) [@NickNickovich](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NickNickovich)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/11 "2018-12-01T19:22:14Z")
Just encountered another one: 下地（したじ） 地下（ちか） ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/6/2/a/62a8b0f4c59ff2c5b6651ffcf43531480b3e5297.png) [@system](https://community.wanikani.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/%E6%97%A5%E5%B8%B8%E5%B8%B8%E6%97%A5%E9%A0%83-words-where-reversing-the-kanji-changes-the-reading/33374/12 "2019-12-01T19:31:56Z")
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