Translation guide
A guide to expressing the English verb and noun 'roll' in Japanese, organized by practical meaning.
To move by rotating on an axis, like a ball or wheel.
Intransitive verb for something rolling on its own. Use for balls, rocks, etc.
The ball rolled down the hill.
Transitive verb for rolling something deliberately.
He rolled the log.
To rotate or revolve. More formal or technical.
The wheel is rolling.
To change body position by turning over.
To form something into a roll by winding or folding.
To make flat by using a rolling pin or similar tool.
To stretch or roll out dough, etc.
Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
To throw dice.
Standard verb for rolling or throwing dice.
Please roll the dice.
To make a rolled food or item by wrapping.
To move on wheels smoothly.
A rolled-up object, like a scroll or bread roll.
The English verb 'roll' covers many distinct actions. Translating directly as ロールする is often unnatural. Choose the specific Japanese verb that matches the action.
転がる (intransitive) is for something rolling by itself. 転がす (transitive) is for someone rolling something. Be careful with transitivity.
子供たちが芝生の上を転がった。
The children rolled on the lawn.
紙を丸めて捨てた。
I rolled the paper into a ball and threw it away.
車が坂を転がり落ちた。
The car rolled down the hill.
cinnamon roll