回る

まわる

to turn, go around

By Nihongo PathUpdated 17 September 2026

Examples

地球は太陽の周りを回っています。
ちきゅうはたいようのまわりをまわっています。
The earth goes around the sun.
疲れていて、目が回りそうです。
つかれていて、めがまわりそうです。
I'm so tired I feel dizzy.
京都でお寺をいくつか回りました。
きょうとでおてらをいくつかまわりました。
I went around visiting several temples in Kyoto.

Common patterns

目が回る: to feel dizzy
見て回る: to look around
町を回る: to go around town

Often confused with

回る vs 回す回る = spins or goes around on its own (が); 回す = you turn or pass something (を). Knobs, keys and handles are always 回す.

Memory tip

回る covers both spinning on the spot and making a round of several places. In the second sense the places take を, as in 店を回る, even though the verb is intransitive.

Kanji in this word

回turn, timesカイ・まわる・まわす

Quick check

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What does 回る mean?