Translation and Meaning of: 丸 - maru

The word 「丸」 (maru) in Japanese carries a variety of meanings and uses that go beyond mere direct translation. The etymology of the kanji 「丸」 suggests the idea of something "round" or "circular." Historically, this kanji is quite ancient, dating back to times when the round shape was associated with perfection and completeness. This concept is still evident in many aspects of the modern use of the word in Japan.

In the Japanese language, 「丸」 is often used to describe round or circular objects and concepts. This includes 'circles', 'spheres', and even ideas of completeness or wholeness. Additionally, the word can be used as a suffix in boat names, usually denoting a connotation of safety and protection. For example, many Japanese ships traditionally have "maru" at the end of their names, a tradition that comes from the belief that these names would bring good luck and protect the ship from evil spirits.

In addition to its literal meanings, 「丸」 (maru) is also used in metaphorical contexts. It can represent wholeness or perfection, something that is 'round' in abstract terms. In a linguistic context, "maru" can be used in conjunction with other words to indicate a reduced or simplified form, conveying the idea of something pure or complete in its basic essence. For example, in traditional Japanese culture, the circle is a symbol of enlightenment, and the word "ensō" (zen circle) is used in Zen Buddhism practice to represent harmonization, strength, and the elegant simplicity of the universe.

The kanji 「丸」 can also be found in various popular and cultural contexts in Japan. It often appears in character names in fictional stories, especially in anime and manga series, usually implying a touch of affection or youthfulness. This usage can be seen, for example, in anime characters where including "maru" in a name can denote a certain charm or simplicity. Furthermore, in more informal contexts, the word "maru" is a friendly way to refer to a complete circle, such as a checkmark, to indicate that something is 'correct' or 'done'.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 円 (En) - Shape of a circle; currency unit of Japan.
• マル (Maru) - Redondo; it can refer to the circular shape or to something that is complete.

丸

Romaji: maru
Kana: まる
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: circle; complete (month); perfection; purity; suffix for ship names

Meaning in English: circle;full (month);perfection;purity;suffix for ship names

Definition: Maru: Something with a circular shape.

Example Sentences - (丸) maru

See below some example sentences:

丸々一日遊べるように予定を立てよう。

Marumaru ichinichi asoberu yō ni yotei o tateyō

Let's make a plan so we can spend the whole day playing.

Let's make a plan so you can play all day.

• 丸々 - completely, entirely
• 一日 - um dia
• 遊べる - can play/divertir-se
• ように - so that, so that
• 予定 - plan, schedule
• を - object particle
• 立てよう - let's do, let's create

丸い形のおにぎりが好きです。

Marui katachi no onigiri ga suki desu

I like round -shaped Onigiri.

I like round rice balls.

• 丸い - round
• 形 - Form
• の - Possessive particle
• おにぎり - rice ball
• が - subject particle
• 好き - like
• です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

丸っきり忘れた。

Marukkiri wasureta

I completely forgot.

I forgot the round.

• 丸っきり - completely
• 忘れた - I forgot

丸ごと食べたい。

Marugoto tabetai

I want to eat everything.

I want to eat the whole.

• 丸ごと - means "whole" or "complete".
• 食べたい - means "I want to eat".

日の丸は日本の国旗です。

Nihon no maru wa Nihon no kokki desu

Hinomaru is a Japanese flag.

• 日の丸 - rising sun flag
• は - Topic marking particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 国旗 - National flag
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

真ん丸いお餅が好きです。

Manmarui omochi ga suki desu

I like round dumplings.

I like round rice cakes.

• 真ん丸い - Adjective that means "round" or "well-rounded".
• お餅 - Noun referring to a type of Japanese rice ball.
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 好き - Adjective that means "to like" or "to have a preference for".
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of speech.

私は紙を丸めました。

Watashi wa kami o marumemashita

I loved the paper.

I rounded the paper.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 紙 (kami) - noun that means "paper"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "paper"
• 丸めました (marumemashita) - verb that means "to knead" or "to roll" in the past