<p>A reverse trap, also known as a Bifauxnen (a portmanteau of Bishōnen and faux, meaning false in French), is simply a girl who resembles a boy. Conversely, what is commonly referred to as a "trap" by the English speaking audience simply refers to a boy who has the qualities of a girl, or otherwise known as a Bishōnen.</p>

<p>Charolotte Dunois would be a reverse trap using these definitions. </p>

<p>Sources:</p>

<p><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bifauxnen?from=Main.ReverseTrap">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bifauxnen?from=Main.ReverseTrap</a>
<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bishonen">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bishonen</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-05T15:44:18.000Z
"Bifauxnen" is read as "beef" + [-ounen] from "shounen" :)
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-05T23:28:16.223Z
Bif aux nen? Sounds French.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-06T01:38:47.567Z
/Bee-fow-nen/ ? It's the first time I've heard this. Learned something today, thanks :)
romcom_god
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-05T15:25:44.447Z
2014-12-05T15:25:44.447Z
Hydromast
<p>A traditional 'trap' is a boy disguised as a female. Note that this is <strong><em>not</em></strong> simply boys who look feminine, but characters who are pretending to be the opposite sex or who are presumed to be by the narrative of the medium. </p>

<p><strong>Example 'traditional' trap:</strong></p>

<p>Maria from Maria✝Holic</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k2p8cm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>&amp; Steins;Gate's Ruka Urushibara (as you mentioned earlier)</p>

<p><strong>Not a trap:</strong> Ryuunosuke Akasaka (The Pet Girl of Sakurasou)</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/j1c9tm.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>A 'reverse trap' is simply the opposite - A female character pretending to be a male one. This is why Charlotte falls under this category. (Until she is outed to be a female). Similar to above, characters who are masculine are not strictly reverse traps.</p>

<p><strong>Example 'reverse' trap:</strong></p>

<p>Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran Highschool Host Club</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lNCsvm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><strong>Not a reverse trap:</strong> Yū Kashima from Nozaki-Kun </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/InYwjm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-06T01:34:00.217Z
Aah, so they should either be pretending or otherwise presumed by the audience. I've always thought Kashima was a reverse trap. Thanks, that cleared it up :)
romcom_god
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-06T09:47:56.373Z
No problem :) that's why they're 'traps' I suppose
Toshinou Kyouko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-05T16:05:08.143Z
2014-12-05T17:37:30.680Z
2014-12-05T17:37:30.680Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>I am confused at how people describe gender roles and their trope classification in anime. I understand that traps are characters appearing to be girls but are actually guys. One of my favorite traps of all time is Steins;Gate's <a href="http://steins-gate.wikia.com/wiki/Ruka_Urushibara" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ruka Urushibara</a>. </p>

<p>However, I don't get what "reverse traps" are. Are they appearing to be traps but are actually legit girls (a trap trap)? Or a character that initially appears to be a boy, but is actually a girl (a girl trap)? For clarity, consider what you would call <a href="http://is.wikia.com/wiki/Charlotte_Dunois" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Charlotte (Charles) Dunios</a> from Infinite Stratos.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k8L93.jpg" alt="charles"> <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0Frkd.jpg" alt="charlotte"></p>

<p><strong>EDIT:</strong> This post is not intended to be offensive to other genders in any way, the naming convention of "traps" pertain to fictional characters in anime/manga only.</p>

<tropes><terminology>
Definition of a reverse trap
# Definition of a reverse trap
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-12-05
I am confused at how people describe gender roles and their trope classification in anime. I understand that traps are characters appearing to be girls but are actually guys. One of my favorite traps of all time is Steins;Gate's [Ruka Urushibara](http://steins-gate.wikia.com/wiki/Ruka_Urushibara).

However, I don't get what "reverse traps" are. Are they appearing to be traps but are actually legit girls (a trap trap)? Or a character that initially appears to be a boy, but is actually a girl (a girl trap)? For clarity, consider what you would call [Charlotte (Charles) Dunios](http://is.wikia.com/wiki/Charlotte_Dunois) from Infinite Stratos.

![charles](https://i.sstatic.net/k8L93.jpg) ![charlotte](https://i.sstatic.net/0Frkd.jpg)

**EDIT:** This post is not intended to be offensive to other genders in any way, the naming convention of "traps" pertain to fictional characters in anime/manga only.
**Tags:** tropes terminology
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_4 on 2014-12-05. Score: 12 | Accepted answer
A traditional 'trap' is a boy disguised as a female. Note that this is ***not*** simply boys who look feminine, but characters who are pretending to be the opposite sex or who are presumed to be by the narrative of the medium.

**Example 'traditional' trap:**

Maria from Maria✝Holic

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/k2p8cm.jpg)

& Steins;Gate's Ruka Urushibara (as you mentioned earlier)

**Not a trap:** Ryuunosuke Akasaka (The Pet Girl of Sakurasou)

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/j1c9tm.png)

A 'reverse trap' is simply the opposite - A female character pretending to be a male one. This is why Charlotte falls under this category. (Until she is outed to be a female). Similar to above, characters who are masculine are not strictly reverse traps.

**Example 'reverse' trap:**

Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran Highschool Host Club

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lNCsvm.jpg)

**Not a reverse trap:** Yū Kashima from Nozaki-Kun

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/InYwjm.jpg)
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2014-12-06): Aah, so they should either be pretending or otherwise presumed by the audience. I've always thought Kashima was a reverse trap. Thanks, that cleared it up :)  
> **username_4** (2014-12-06): No problem :) that's why they're 'traps' I suppose  
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2014-12-05. Score: 7
A reverse trap, also known as a Bifauxnen (a portmanteau of Bishōnen and faux, meaning false in French), is simply a girl who resembles a boy. Conversely, what is commonly referred to as a "trap" by the English speaking audience simply refers to a boy who has the qualities of a girl, or otherwise known as a Bishōnen.

Charolotte Dunois would be a reverse trap using these definitions.

Sources:

<http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bifauxnen?from=Main.ReverseTrap>
<http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bishonen>
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2014-12-05): "Bifauxnen" is read as "beef" + [-ounen] from "shounen" :)  
> **username_3** (2014-12-05): Bif aux nen? Sounds French.  
> **username_0** (2014-12-06): /Bee-fow-nen/ ? It's the first time I've heard this. Learned something today, thanks :)  
---
