Japanese word

一回り

Pronunciation

Romajihitomawari

Meaning

  • nounone size larger

Example

この箱は一回り大きいです。ko no bako wa hito mawa ri ō ki i de su

This box is one size larger.

Illustration for 一回り (one size larger)

More examples

成長期の子どもには、一回り大きい服を買うことがあります。sei chō ki no ko do mo ni wa hito mawa ri ō ki i fuku o ka u ko to ga a ri ma su

For children who are growing, people sometimes buy clothes one size larger.

Core concept

Marks one complete, noticeable step in size or extent from a reference point, and can also describe one full turn or circuit.

Common phrases

  • 一回り上のサイズhito mawa ri ue no sa i zu

    one size up

  • 一回り大きい靴hito mawa ri ō ki i kutsu

    shoes one size larger

Similar words

一段ichidan: A single step or degree of increase in size, level, or extent.

Definition in Japanese

基準となるものに比べて、全体が一段階大きいこと。ki jun to na ru mo no ni kura be te zen tai ga ichi dan kai ō ki i ko to

Word origin

Combines 一 (hito, "one") and 回り (mawari, "turn or circuit"), the noun form of 回る (mawaru, "to turn"); it came to express one complete unit of comparison.

Usage tips

  • The size sense of 一回り (hitomawari) commonly appears with 大きい (ōkii), describing an object that is larger overall rather than larger in only one measurement.

Other meanings

  • one roundnoun
  • one turnnoun

Word lists with this word