旋
rotation, go around
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- め.ぐる
- いばり
Nanori
- せ
- めぐり
Meaning
旋 centers on circular movement: turning, revolving, or going around something. The idea of rotation covers both physical spinning and the act of moving along a circular path.
Most common words using 旋
20 of 87- 旋回せんかい
revolution; rotation; turning; circling; swiveling
- 斡旋あっせんN1
good offices; kind offices; services; influence; recommendation
- 凱旋がいせん
triumphant return; returning in triumph
- 旋律せんりつN1
melody; tune
- 螺旋らせんN1
spiral; helix
- 旋風せんぷう
whirlwind
- 旋盤せんばん
lathe
- 旋毛つむじ
hair whorl
- 回旋かいせん
rotation; revolution; convolution
- イオニア旋法イオニアせんぽう
Ionian mode
- エオリア旋法エオリアせんぽう
Aeolian mode
- タレット旋盤タレットせんばん
turret lathe
- ドリア旋法ドリアせんぽう
Dorian mode
- フリギア旋法フリギアせんぽう
Phrygian mode
- リディア旋法リディアせんぽう
Lydian mode
- 一大旋風いちだいせんぷう
great sensation; taking something by storm; making a splash
- 主旋律しゅせんりつ
main melody; lead
- 二重螺旋にじゅうらせん
double helix (structure of DNA)
- 内旋ないせん
internal rotation (rotating a limb towards the midline of the body); medial rotation; endorotation
- 凱旋公演がいせんこうえん
performance given after a successful tour abroad
Study
Etymology
旋 combines 方 (direction/orientation) with a right side that historically represented a turning or revolving motion. The exact origin of the right component is uncertain, but the character as a whole conveys rotation.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 方 suggests a direction, and the right side 疋 looks like a person walking in a circle. Picture someone pacing around a fixed point, always turning: 旋 means rotation.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a spinning centrifuge: cent -> セン, and the machine rotates samples around and around.