Japanese word

回す

Pronunciation

Romajimawasu

Meaning

  • verbturn

Example

ドアの取っ手を回します。do a no to tte o mawa shi ma su

I turn the door handle.

Illustration for 回す (turn)

More examples

水道の蛇口を回します。sui dō no ja guchi o mawa shi ma su

I turn the faucet.

この書類を順番に回して読みます。ko no sho rui o jun ban ni mawa shi te yo mi ma su

We pass this document around and read it in turn.

Core concept

Causes something to move around an axis or through a sequence of people.

Common phrases

  • 水道の栓を回すsui dō no sen o mawa su

    turn the faucet handle

  • ハンドルを回すha n do ru o mawa su

    turn the handle

  • みんなに回すmi n na ni mawa su

    pass around to everyone

Similar words

ひねるhineru: To turn something by twisting it with the hand.

Definition in Japanese

物を軸の周りに動かしたり、順に人へ渡したりする。mono o jiku no mawa ri ni ugo ka shi ta ri jun ni hito e wata shi ta ri su ru

Word origin

回す (mawasu, "to make something go around") is the transitive counterpart of 回る (mawaru, "to go around").

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 回す (mawasu) describes turning a handle, knob, or key, while 回る (mawaru) describes the thing itself rotating.

Other meanings

  • pass aroundverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 回し方mawashikataway of turningnoun

Word lists with this word