回る・廻る|まわるmawaru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
回る回る is the most common written form, using kanji and kana; it is the form beginners should normally choose.
廻る廻る is a less common variant, also written with kanji and kana. Recognize it, but choose 回る when writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto turn; to rotate; to revolve; to spin
- godan verb, intransitive verbto go around; to circle; to revolve around; to orbitその船は岬を回った。↗The ship sailed around the cape.
- godan verb, intransitive verbto make the rounds (of); to go around (several places); to travel around; to make a tour of; to patrol
- godan verb, intransitive verbto go by way of; to go via; to stop by (on the way); to take a roundabout route; to make a detour
- godan verb, intransitive verbto move around (to another place or position); to come around; to go over (e.g. to the opposing side)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto come around (of one's turn); to be passed around (of a cup, circular, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto function; to work well
- godan verb, intransitive verbto spread; to extend (to; e.g. of one's attention); to reach; to take effect (of alcohol, poison, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto pass (a time); to turn (e.g. 5 o'clock)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto earn interest
- suffix, godan verbto ... around; to ... aboutafter -masu stem of verb
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 回る（まわる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 回ります（まわります） |
| Negative (nai) | 回らない（まわらない） |
| polite (masen) | 回りません（まわりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 回らず・回らぬ（まわらず・まわらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 回った（まわった） |
| polite (mashita) | 回りました（まわりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 回らなかった（まわらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 回りませんでした（まわりませんでした） |
| Te form | 回って（まわって） |
| Potential | 回れる（まわれる） |
| Passive | 回られる（まわられる） |
| Causative | 回らせる（まわらせる） |
| Causative passive | 回らせられる・回らされる（まわらせられる・まわらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 回れば（まわれば） |
| tara | 回ったら（まわったら） |
| Volitional | 回ろう（まわろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 回りましょう（まわりましょう） |
| Imperative | 回れ（まわれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
歯車が回る
回る describes something turning or revolving on its own (as in 歯車が回る 'the gear turns'), while 回す describes an agent causing something to turn (as in 歯車を回す 'turn the gear').
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym回転かいてんWrittenSino-Japanese word for an object's rotation, as in 「エンジンの回転」; technical in flavour, while 「回る」 is the more common spoken choice.
- Synonym旋回せんかいWrittenCircling or wheeling round, as in 「飛行機が旋回する」; used mainly of aircraft and ships.
- Synonym転回てんかいWrittenA turn that changes direction, as in 「Uターンで転回する」; the emphasis is on shifting course rather than spinning.
- SynonymスピンCasualColloquial loanword for a spin, used mostly in figure skating and ball sports.
- SynonymくるくるCasualColloquial mimetic word for something spinning round and round lightly, as in 「くるくる回る」.
- Synonym循環じゅんかんWrittenCirculation, going round and coming back to the start, as in 「血液の循環」; the focus is on a cycle that recurs.
- SynonymめぐるWrittenTo go around or come round again, as in 「季節が巡る」; a literary verb with a poetic feel.
- Synonym回旋かいせんWrittenWritten word for revolving or coiling; also used of plant stems twining as they grow.
- Synonym周回しゅうかいWrittenGoing round a course or orbiting, as in 「周回軌道」; typical of race tracks and satellites.
- Synonym輪転りんてんWrittenThe turning of a wheel; now mostly seen in 「輪転機」, meaning a rotary printing press.
- Related歩き回るあるきまわるNeutralTo walk about from place to place, as in 「部屋を歩き回る」; the focus is on wandering around.
- Related一回りひとまわりNeutralOne full circuit, as in 「町を一回りする」; also one size larger or smaller, or a twelve-year zodiac cycle.
- Related見回るみまわるNeutralTo make the rounds to inspect or keep watch, as in 「校内を見回る」; the point is patrolling.
- Related巻くまくNeutralTransitive: to wind or wrap something around, as in 「包帯を巻く」; the stress is on coiling around the outside.
- RelatedターンCasualColloquial loanword for turning around or turning back, as in 「ターンする」.
- Antonym止まるとまるNeutralThe antonym: to stop moving, as in 「モーターが止まる」.
Default to 「回る」 for turning, spinning, going around or making rounds. For mechanical rotation use 「回転」, for aircraft or ships circling 「旋回」, for a change of direction 「転回」, for circulation 「循環」, for patrolling 「見回る」, for seasons coming round 「巡る」, and for stopping 「止まる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
