How to say "revolution" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 革命かくめいnounThe default word for revolution in the political sense—an overthrow of a government or social order. When English 'revolution' refers to political upheaval, this is the word you want.
- 回転かいてんnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers revolution in the mechanical sense of one complete turn or spin, as in rotation. For this physical meaning it is the usual choice; it does not refer to political revolution.
- 旋回せんかいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbRefers to turning or circling motion, such as circling around a point. It can translate 'revolution' as circling, but for simple rotation 回転 is usually the better word.タカは空を旋回した。↗The hawk circled round in the sky.
- 維新いしんnounMeans reformation or sweeping renewal of a society, famously in historical contexts of major national reform. It is a narrower, mostly historical way to express revolutionary change, not everyday 'revolution'.
- 回帰かいきnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbDenotes returning or recurring to an earlier point, so 'revolution' here only in the astronomical or cyclical sense of a body returning to its starting position. Seldom the word for other senses.
Use 革命 for political or sweeping social upheaval; for physical senses choose 回転 or 旋回 depending on motion; 維新 and 回帰 appear in specific historical and cyclical contexts respectively.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 革命かくめいrevolution
- 回転かいてんrotation
- 旋回せんかいrevolution
- 維新いしんreformation
- 回帰かいきreturn (to)
- 転回てんかいrevolution
- 変革へんかくchange
- 政変せいへんpolitical disturbance
- 公転こうてんrevolution (of a celestial body around another)
- ターニングturning
- レボリューションrevolution
- 旋転せんてんrevolution
- 大変革だいへんかくrevolution
- 回旋かいせんrotation
- 輪転りんてんrotation
- 運行うんこうmovement (of a heavenly body)
See also
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