Japanese word

一周

Pronunciation

Romajiisshū

Meaning

  • nounlap

Example

公園を一周します。kō en o is shū shi ma su

I go around the park once.

Illustration for 一周 (lap)

More examples

マラソンでは、競技場を一周してから外へ出ます。ma ra so n de wa kyō gi jō o is shū shi te ka ra soto e de ma su

In the marathon, the runners go around the stadium once before heading outside.

Core concept

Marks a single passage around an area or route, with the circuit counted as one unit.

Common phrases

  • 一周するis shū su ru

    go around once

  • 一周ごとにis shū go to ni

    every lap

Similar words

周回shūkai: One full circuit of a course, track, or defined area.
一回りhitomawari: A complete trip around something that returns to the starting point.

Definition in Japanese

ある場所の周囲を一度巡ること。a ru ba sho no shū i o ichi do megu ru ko to

Word origin

The noun 一周 (isshū, "one circuit") is formed from 一 (ichi, "one") and 周 (shū, "circuit"), whose sounds combine as isshū.

Usage tips

  • A race commentator may count each circuit as 一周 (isshū), so 二周 (nishū) means two circuits rather than a second attempt.

Other meanings

  • circuitnoun
  • roundnoun

Word lists with this word