回転
kaiten[ka̠itẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese verb for to spin is 回転 (kaiten).
The term describes the act of turning around quickly.
Meaning: to turn around quickly (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 回転 is the standard word for rotation or spinning, the katakana word スピン is used specifically in sports contexts, such as figure skating or when referring to a specific type of ball spin in baseball. For a specific flight condition, the term きりもみ is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 回転 becomes a verb by adding the verb する to form 回転する.
How do you pronounce it?
kaiten
Did you know?
- The word 回転 is used to name 'conveyor belt sushi', called 回転寿司, where plates of fish spin past the customers on a motorized belt.
- In Japanese, a 'turnover' or 'rotation' of staff or inventory is expressed using 回転, such as 回転率 to describe how quickly customers leave a restaurant to make room for new ones.
- The concept of 'spinning' in a circular motion is often associated with the character 回, which itself is a pictograph representing a cycle or a return to a starting point. This adds a layer of 'looping' meaning to the word.
Examples in context
- 地球は内部の高温の液体金属の中心核とともに高速回転するので、地球全体を覆うような磁場を発生させる。The rapid spin of the Earth along with the liquid, hot metallic core causes a magnetic field to surround the Earth.This example shows how the rapid spin of the Earth produces a magnetic field using 回転.Tatoeba #6855713 by Sonata, translation #3955504 by Hybrid
- フィギュアスケートの選手って、あんなに高速でくるくる回転してるのに、なんで目が回らずにいられるんだろう。I wonder how figure-skaters are able to keep from being dizzy when they spin really fast.This example uses 回転 to wonder how figure skaters avoid dizziness while spinning fast.Tatoeba #1131276 by bunbuku, translation #1495471 by marshmallowcat
- 子供たちは喜びながら庭で回っていました。The children were spinning joyfully in the garden.
- キャロルちゃんはドレスを着てぐるぐる回っています。Carol is spinning around in a dress.
- 彼はスケートリンクでスピンしていた。He was spinning at the skating rink.
- コマが勢いよく回転している。Koma ga ikioi yoku kaiten shite iru.The spinning top is rotating vigorously.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are watching a toy top spin on the floor.
- 陽太 Yota見て！コマがすごく速く回転してるよ。mite! koma ga sugoku hayaku kaiten shiteru yo.Look! The top is spinning really fast.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だね。目が回りそう！hontou da ne. me ga mawari sou!You're right. It makes me feel dizzy!
- 陽太 Yotaいつまで回転し続けるかな？itsu made kaiten shitsuzukeru kana?I wonder how long it will keep spinning?
- 美咲 Misakiもうすぐ止まると思うよ。mou sugu tomaru to omou yo.I think it will stop soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 回転, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
