Translation and Meaning of: 回 - kai

If you are studying Japanese or simply interested in the language, you may have come across the word 回[かい]. It appears in various contexts, from counting events to temporal expressions, and understanding its meaning can be essential for mastering the language. In this article, we'll explore what this word represents, its origin, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and some curiosities that can help with memorization. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide clear and practical explanations to facilitate your learning.

Meaning and uses of the word 回

The word 回[かい] primarily means "time" or "occasion," and is often used to count repeated events. For example, 一回[いっかい] means "one time," while 三回[さんかい] means "three times." Additionally, it can indicate rotation or circular movement, as in 回転[かいてん] (rotation). This versatility makes it a very common word in the daily lives of the Japanese.

Another interesting use of 回 is in temporal expressions, such as 今回 [こんかい] (this time) or 前回 [ぜんかい] (last time). It also appears in terms like 回数券 [かいすうけん] (multiple-ride ticket), demonstrating its practical application in everyday situations. Whether in informal conversations or in more formal contexts, 回 is definitely a word worth mastering.

Origin and writing of the kanji 回

The kanji 回 is composed of the radical 囗 (which represents a perimeter or limit) and the component 口 (mouth). Its structure suggests the idea of something that rotates or moves within a defined space, which makes sense considering its meanings related to rotation and repetition. This visual association can be helpful for those learning to write or memorize the character.

According to the Kangorin dictionary, the kanji 回 has its origins in ancient China, where it was used to represent both the act of returning and circular movement. Over time, its use expanded to include counting events, a meaning that remains strong in modern Japanese. This dual function – indicating both movement and repetition – shows how the Japanese language has leveraged the richness of kanji to express related concepts.

Tips for memorizing and using 回

An effective way to solidify the meaning of 回 is to associate it with words you already know. For example, 回転寿司[かいてんずし] (conveyor belt sushi) combines the idea of rotation with a popular dish. Creating simple sentences like この映画は二回見た (I've seen this movie twice) also helps to internalize its practical use. The more contextualized the learning is, the more natural the use of this word will become.

Another tip is to pay attention to how 回 appears in animes, dramas, or songs. Often, it shows up in everyday conversations or song lyrics, reinforcing its importance in the language. If you enjoy games, you can practice by counting how many times you perform an action, such as 五回ジャンプした (I jumped five times). These small immersions in the language make learning more dynamic and fun.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

循環 (Junkan) - Circulation; cyclical movement.
周回 (Shūkai) - Circulation; it can refer to a complete loop or trajectory around something.
反復 (Hanpuku) - Repetition; the act of repeating something consecutively.
再度 (Saido) - New time; it implies a repetition after a pause or interval.
繰り返し (Kurikaeshi) - Repetition; usually used for repetitive actions or cycles in a continuous context.
ループ (Rūpu) - Loop; a repetitive sequence in programming or music, usually with no defined end.

Related words

後回し

atomawashi

postponing

身の回り

minomawari

someone's personal appearance; personal belongings

回す

mawasu

to turn; to turn

回り

mawari

circumference; environment; circulation

回り道

mawarimichi

Displacement

回る

mawaru

to turn; to spin; visit several places

根回し

nemawashi

making the necessary arrangements

ねじ回し

nejimawashi

Screwdriver

遠回り

toomawari

diversion; indirect way

転回

tenkai

revolution; rotation

回

Romaji: kai
Kana: かい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: occurrence counter

Meaning in English: counter for occurrences

Definition: repetir algo.

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How to Write in Japanese - (回) kai

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (回) kai:

Example Sentences - (回) kai

See below some example sentences:

身の回りの世話をする。

Mino mawari no sewa wo suru

Take care of things around yourself.

Take care.

身の回り - It refers to things related to the body, such as clothes, personal hygiene, etc.
の - Particle that indicates possession or relationship.
世話 - Care, attention, assistance.
を - Particle that indicates the object of the action.
する - Verb that means "to do" or "to make".

車輪が回っている。

Sharin ga mawatte iru

The wheels are spinning.

車輪 - Means "wheel" in Japanese.
が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
回っている - verb meaning "turning" or "rotating".

私はスプーンでコーヒーを掻き回す。

Watashi wa supūn de kōhī o kakimawasu

I move coffee with a spoon.

I scratch the coffee with a spoon.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
スプーン (supuun) - noun meaning "to harvest"
で (de) - particle that indicates the means or tool used
コーヒー (koohii) - noun meaning "coffee"
を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
掻き回す (kakimawasu) - verb meaning "to stir" or "to agitate"

急がば回れ

isogaba maware

Run

急がば - It means "rushing without thinking can lead to problems."
回れ - It means "to go around, to circumvent".

回覧を配布しました。

Kairan wo haifu shimashita

We distributed the circulation document.

The circulation was distributed.

回覧 - Word that means "circulation of documents" or "distribution of information".
を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action.
配布 - Verb that means "distribute" or "deliver".
しました - past form of the verb "suru", which indicates that the action was completed.

今回の旅行は楽しかったです。

Konnkai no ryokou wa tanoshikatta desu

The trip this time was fun.

This trip was fun.

今回の旅行 - konkai no ryokou(trip this time)
は - wa(topic particle)
楽しかった - tanoshikatta(it was fun)
です - desu(verb to be/estar in the present tense)

ダイヤルを回してください。

Daiyaru wo mawashite kudasai

Spin the dial on the phone, please.

Rotate the dial.

ダイヤル (daiyaru) - means "dial" in Japanese, referring to the disk on an old telephone used to make calls.
を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, indicating that "daiyaru" is the object of the action.
回して (mawashite) - verb form of the verb "mawasu", which means "to turn" in Japanese.
ください (kudasai) - polite form of the verb "kureru", which means "to give" in Japanese. In this context, it's used as a polite way of asking someone to turn the dial.

この回路は正常に動作しています。

Kono kairo wa seijō ni dōsa shite imasu

This circuit is working correctly.

This circuit works normally.

この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
回路 - noun that means "circuit"
は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this circuit"
正常 - adjective meaning "normal"
に - particle that indicates the state in which the circuit is functioning
動作 - noun that means "operation" or "functioning"
しています - verb that indicates the action of "being functional" or "being operational"