How to say "spherical" in Japanese

• 丸いまるいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe general adjective for 'round': it covers circles and rounded shapes as well as ball-like things, so it says 'round' without committing to a perfect sphere — the natural choice for describing everyday objects.
  コロンブスは地球ちきゅうが丸まるいと信しんじていた。↗

  Columbus believed that the earth was round.
• 球状きゅうじょうCommon
  no-adjectiveThe precise shape term for 'spherical, globular, globe-shaped': a noun naming the three-dimensional form itself. Use it when the shape must be stated exactly, as in scientific or technical description.

Use 「丸い」 for the general sense 'round', which stretches to loosely ball-like shapes; use 球状 when you need the precise shape term 'spherical, globe-shaped'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 丸いまるいround
• 球状きゅうじょうspherical
• まろやかround
• 丸っこいまるっこいround
• 円転えんてんorotund
• 玉型たまがたround
• 玉状たまじょうball-shaped
• まあるいround