空転する · noun or participle which takes 'suru'
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 空転する | 空転しない |
| Polite | 空転します | 空転しません |
| Past polite | 空転しました | 空転しませんでした |
| Past | 空転した | 空転しなかった |
| Te-form | 空転して | 空転しないで |
| Desire | 空転したい | 空転したくない |
| Potential | 空転できる | 空転できない |
| Passive | 空転される | 空転されない |
| Causative | 空転させる | 空転させない |
| Causative passive | 空転させられる | 空転させられない |
| Volitional | 空転しよう | |
| Polite volitional | 空転しましょう | |
| Imperative | 空転しろ | 空転するな |
| Conditional | 空転すれば | 空転しなければ |
| Tara conditional | 空転したら | 空転しなかったら |
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
racing; idling; spinning without load
Literal mechanical sense: an engine or wheel turns without doing useful work, often because of lost traction or no load.
See also: 空回り
雪道でタイヤが空転して進めなかった。
The tires spun on the snowy road and we couldn't move forward.
The engine is just racing; the car isn't moving.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
going in circles; spinning one's wheels; getting nowhere
Figurative use: discussions, arguments, or efforts that repeat without progress. Often used with 議論, 話し合い, etc.
The meeting just went in circles and nothing was decided.
The discussion is spinning its wheels, repeating the same points.
The tires spun uselessly on the snowy road and the car wouldn't move.
In the committee, the same discussion kept going in circles without progress.
The parliamentary deliberations just kept going in circles without any progress.