Word
回転
Meaning in Englishrotation, turning
Animated kanji stroke order
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)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
逆転
gyakuten
(sudden) change, reversal, turn-around
N1
転換
tenkan
convert, divert
N1
転居
tenkyo
moving, changing residence
N1
転勤
tenkin
transfer (to another office of a company)
N1
転じる
tenjiru
to turn, to shift
N1
転ずる
tenzuru
to turn, to shift
N1
転任
tennin
change of post
N1
転落
tenraku
fall, degradation
N1
後回し
atomawashi
putting off, postponing