How to say "circulate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 伝わるつたわるgodan verb, intransitive verbCovers the sense of something spreading or circulating by itself, such as a rumour or news reaching people. The subject is the information, not a person passing it along.
- 回すまわすgodan verb, transitive verbCovers the transitive sense of circulating something by passing it around, sending it from person to person. Use this when someone actively hands an item or document around a group.
Use 「伝わる」 when something such as a rumour or news spreads or circulates on its own, and 「回す」 when a person actively passes something around among a group.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 伝わるつたわるto spread (of a rumour, news, etc.)
- 言いふらすいいふらすto spread (e.g. a rumor)
- 触れ回るふれまわるto go around spreading (news, rumors, etc.)
- 通うかようto circulate (e.g. blood, electricity)
- めぐるto come around (of a season, anniversary, turn, etc.)
- 回すまわすto pass around
- 言い伝えるいいつたえるto spread (a rumor, news, etc.)
- 流すながすto circulate (a rumour, information, etc.)
- 流れるながれるto sweep (e.g. rumour, fire)
- 飛ばすとばすto spread (e.g. a rumour)
See also
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