Translation guide
The English word 'revolving' describes something that turns around a central point, or something that recurs in cycles. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
Describing something that physically rotates or spins around an axis or center.
The most common and neutral verb for 'revolve' or 'rotate'. Used for wheels, planets, machinery, etc.
地球は太陽の周りを回転している。
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
This is a revolving door.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to turn', 'to spin', or 'to go around'. More casual and common in everyday speech than 回転する.
風車が風で回っている。
The windmill is revolving in the wind.
Transitive verb meaning 'to turn (something)' or 'to spin (something)'. Use when someone causes the revolving.
ハンドルを回してください。
Please turn the steering wheel.
Means 'to revolve' or 'to circle', often used for aircraft, birds, or vehicles making a circular movement. More technical or literary.
ヘリコプターが上空を旋回している。
A helicopter is revolving overhead.
Describing events, seasons, or systems that repeat in a regular cycle.
Means 'to circulate' or 'to cycle'. Used for recurring patterns, economic cycles, or natural cycles.
四季は循環する。
The four seasons revolve in a cycle.
景気には循環がある。
The economy has revolving cycles.
Means 'to repeat'. Often used for recurring events or actions, though it doesn't inherently imply a circular motion.
歴史は繰り返すと言われる。
It is said that history revolves (repeats itself).
Adjective meaning 'periodic' or 'cyclical'. Used in scientific or formal contexts.
この現象は周期的に発生する。
This phenomenon occurs on a revolving (periodic) basis.
Referring to financial arrangements where credit or funds are continuously available as repayments are made.
The standard term for 'revolving payment' or 'revolving credit'. Often shortened to リボ払い in casual contexts.
このカードはリボルビング払いに対応しています。
This card supports revolving payments.
Casual abbreviation of リボルビング払い. Very common in everyday conversation about credit cards.
リボ払いにすると手数料がかかります。
If you use revolving payment, there will be a fee.
A direct translation of 'revolving credit', but rarely used. リボルビング払い is much more common.
This term is not commonly used; stick to リボルビング払い or リボ払い.
回転信用はあまり使われない言葉です。
The term 'revolving credit' is not commonly used.
回転する is more formal and often used for mechanical or astronomical rotation. 回る is the everyday intransitive verb for spinning or going around. Use 回す when you need a transitive verb (to turn something).
観覧車が回っている。
The Ferris wheel is revolving.
彼はハンドルを回した。
He turned the steering wheel.
For abstract cycles like seasons or economic trends, 循環する is more natural than 回転する. 回転する implies a physical rotation.
景気は循環する。
The economy goes through cycles.