Word
回転
Meaning in Englishrotation, turning
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
回転 means rotation or turning; it describes the act of turning around an axis or circular path, and is used for physical rotation, rotational systems, or metaphorical rotation of roles or duties.
Main meanings
- Physical rotation: the act of turning around an axis, producing circular motion.
- Rotating devices and phenomena: wheels, gears, conveyor belts, revolving doors, turntables.
- Conveyor sushi: the practice of serving plates on a rotating belt in restaurants (kaiten-zushi).
- Rotation of roles or duties: assigning tasks in a rotating schedule or shift system.
- Rotation speed or angle: used in physics/engineering as a measure of how fast something turns, often described with 回転数 or 回転角.
How to use it
Used in everyday speech to describe objects that turn or rotate; in scientific and technical contexts as a term for rotational motion and devices; in hospitality and consumer culture for conveyor-belt sushi (回転寿司) and revolving doors; formal discourse often uses compound forms like 回転運動 to specify rotational movement.
Variants and close terms
- 回転 (kaiten) – rotation; general sense
- 旋回 (senkai) – turning or circling, often for aircraft or vehicles
- 循環 (junkan) – circulation or cycle
- 回転寿司 (kaitenzushi) – conveyor belt sushi
Composition
- 回: to turn again; circle; repetition
- 転: to roll; turn; change
Etymology
回 (kaiten) to turn, circle back; 転 (ten) to roll, turn; together they denote turning around, a core concept leading to rotation.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
転回
tenkai
revolution, rotation
N1
遠回り
toomawari
detour, roundabout way
N1
根回し
nemawashi
making necessary arrangements
N1
上回る
uwamawaru
to exceed
N1
回収
kaishuu
collection, recovery
N1
回送
kaisou
forwarding
N1
回覧
kairan
circulation
N1
回路
kairo
circuit (electric)
N1
掻き回す
kakimawasu
to stir up, to churn, to disturb
Kanji