自転|じてんjiten[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, astronomyrotation (on an axis)
    地球ちきゅうは自転じてんしている。↗
    The earth revolves on its axis.
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbrotation (under its own power)
Conjugation
Dictionary form自転する(じてんする)
Polite (masu)自転します(じてんします)
Negative (nai)自転しない(じてんしない)
polite (masen)自転しません(じてんしません)
classical zu / nu自転せず・自転せぬ(じてんせず・じてんせぬ)
Past (ta)自転した(じてんした)
polite (mashita)自転しました(じてんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)自転しなかった(じてんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)自転しませんでした(じてんしませんでした)
Te form自転して(じてんして)
Potential自転できる(じてんできる)
Passive自転される(じてんされる)
Causative自転させる(じてんさせる)
Causative passive自転させられる(じてんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)自転すれば(じてんすれば)
tara自転したら(じてんしたら)
Volitional自転しよう(じてんしよう)
polite (mashou)自転しましょう(じてんしましょう)
Imperative自転しろ(じてんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymスピンNeutralLoanword for spin or rotation, as in 「スピンをかける」; leans toward sports and physics contexts.
  • Synonym回旋かいせんWrittenWritten/formal word for circling or winding around; examples are scarce.
  • Synonym回転運動かいてんうんどうWrittenWritten/formal technical term for rotational motion in physics.
  • Related旋回せんかいWrittenWritten/formal: circling or turning in a wide arc, as an aircraft's 「旋回」; it stresses going around, while 「自転」 is rotation about one's own axis.
  • Related回りまわりNeutralColloquial: turning or making a round; not tied to celestial rotation.
  • Related一周いっしゅうNeutralOne full circuit, as in 「世界一周」; stresses completing a lap rather than spinning on an axis.
  • Related公転こうてんNeutralPairs with 「自転」 as its opposite: spinning on one's own axis versus orbiting another body.
  • Antonym公転こうてんNeutralPairs with 「自転」 as its opposite: spinning on one's own axis versus orbiting another body.

Use 「自転」 for a celestial body's rotation on its own axis, as in 「地球の自転」. To orbit another body say 「公転」; for rotation in general 「回転」; for spin in sports 「スピン」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 自みずから回転かいてんすること。
  2. 天体てんたいが内部ないぶの点てんや軸じくの周囲しゅういを回転かいてんすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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