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ぐるり Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ぐるり

ぐ

る

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

surroundings; circumference; perimeter

Refers to the area around something or the distance around it. Often used in descriptive or literary contexts.

城しろのぐるりには高たかい壁かべがめぐらされている。
A high wall surrounds the castle.
池いけのぐるりを

散さん

歩ぽ

し

た

。

I took a walk around the pond.

Written forms

ぐるりUsage94%
Standard kana spelling. The kanji 周 is sometimes used but is not a common written form for this word.
グルリUsage6%
周ぐるり
Rare kanji spelling noted; learners should use the kana form.

Similar words

周まわり
周り is the common word for 'surroundings' or 'perimeter'. ぐるり is less common and has a slightly more literary or emphatic feel, often implying a complete circuit.
周しゅう囲い
周囲 is a more formal or technical term for 'surroundings' or 'circumference', while ぐるり is more colloquial and descriptive.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. It may be related to the mimetic adverb ぐるぐる (round and round), with a similar sound-symbolic origin suggesting circularity.