回す・廻す|まわすmawasu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
回す回す（まわす） is the most common written form and the default choice for beginners. Use it as your usual spelling.
廻す廻す（まわす） is less common than 回す（まわす） and is an alternative written form. Beginners should normally choose 回す（まわす） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn; to rotate; to spin; to twist; to gyrate
- godan verb, transitive verbto pass around; to send around; to hand around; to circulate
- godan verb, transitive verbto move (someone or something to where its needed); to send; to bring; to transfer; to forward; to direct; to submit
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn (to a new use); to use (for something else)
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn on (something that turns or has a rotating part, e.g. a washing machine); to start up (e.g. an engine); to give (something) a spin
- godan verb, transitive verbto put (someone in a position); to make (e.g. an enemy of)
- auxiliary verb, godan verbto ... around (e.g. chase, fool, play); to do all over; to do everywhere; to do completelyafter the -masu stem of a verb
- godan verb, transitive verbto surround (something) with; to enclose with
- godan verb, transitive verbto put (an arm) around (e.g. someone's waist); to reach around彼は彼女の腰に腕をまわした。↗He put his arm around her waist.
- godan verb, transitive verbto invest (money); to lend
- godan verb, transitive verbto dial (a telephone number)
- godan verb, transitive verbto gang-rape
- godan verb, transitive verbto operate (e.g. business, shop)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 回す（まわす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 回します（まわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 回さない（まわさない） |
| polite (masen) | 回しません（まわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 回さず・回さぬ（まわさず・まわさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 回した（まわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 回しました（まわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 回さなかった（まわさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 回しませんでした（まわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 回して（まわして） |
| Potential | 回せる（まわせる） |
| Passive | 回される（まわされる） |
| Causative | 回させる（まわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 回させられる（まわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 回せば（まわせば） |
| tara | 回したら（まわしたら） |
| Volitional | 回そう（まわそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 回しましょう（まわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 回せ（まわせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
歯車が回る
歯車を回す
回る focuses on the event or resulting state, as in 歯車が回る; 回す foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 歯車を回す.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym回転させるNeutralTo make something rotate; also used with funds, as in 「資金を回転させる」. Stiffer than 「回す」 and has no sense of passing or dispatching things around.
- Synonym回らせるNeutralCausative of 「回る」: to let something turn or go around. A roundabout way to say it; in everyday speech just use 「回す」 to turn things.
- Synonym廻らせるWrittenAnother way of writing 「回らせる」: to make something turn or go around; a rare written form. 「思いを廻らせる」 is read めぐらせる and is a different word. For everyday turning use 「回す」.
- Related回転かいてんNeutralA noun (also intransitive) for rotation or turning; also of a quick mind or funds turning over, as in 「回転が速い」. 「回す」 is the transitive verb that makes something turn.
- Related旋回せんかいWrittenWritten/formal word for circling or turning, mostly of aircraft and ships, as in 「旋回飛行」; can be transitive too. Everyday 「回す」 also covers passing and dispatching.
- RelatedねじるNeutralTo twist: apply force to both ends in opposite directions, or hold one end and turn the other, as in 「体を捩る」. 「回す」 turns something as a whole.
- Related旋転せんてんWrittenRare written word for whirling rotation; can be intransitive or transitive. In everyday speech say 「回転する」 or use 「回す」.
- Antonym止めるとめるNeutralTo stop something that is running or moving, as in 「機械を止める」 — the opposite of 「回す」, which sets things turning.
- Antonym固定するNeutralTo fix something in place so it cannot move — the opposite of 「回す」, which sets something turning.
Use 「回す」 to make something turn, and also to pass things around or deploy people and resources. For the noun, 「回転」; for an aircraft or ship circling, 「旋回」; for twisting, 「捩る」. 「回転させる」 and 「回らせる」 are stiffer or roundabout ways of making something turn; 「旋転」 and 「廻らせる」 are rare written forms. To stop or switch off a machine, 「止める」; to fix something in place, 「固定する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
