螺ら旋せん

ら

せ

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Refers to a curve winding around a central point or axis, including both 2D spirals and 3D helices. Common in geometry, biology, and everyday description.

DNAは二に重じゅうらせん構こう造ぞうをしている。
DNA has a double helix structure.
階かい段だんが螺ら旋せん状じょうに上うえへ続つづいている。
The stairs continue upward in a spiral.

noun

screw

Specifically refers to a screw thread or a screw-shaped object. Often used in mechanical contexts; compare with ねじ for a more general 'screw' as a fastener.

Usage patterns

螺ら旋せんを描かくto form or trace a spiral shape
つる植しょく物ぶつが螺ら旋せんを描かくように伸のびていく。
The vine grows in a spiral shape as it climbs.
螺ら旋せんを切きるto cut a screw thread
ボルトの表ひょう面めんに螺ら旋せんを切きる。
Cut a screw thread into the surface of the bolt.

Kanji

螺small, edible, helical fresh-water mollusk
旋rotation, go around

Related words

ネジN2sense 2
ねじ is the everyday word for a screw or bolt as a physical fastener, while 螺旋 emphasizes the spiral or helical shape of the thread itself, often in technical contexts.
渦うず巻まきN1sense 1
渦巻き usually describes a swirling, often flat spiral pattern like a whirlpool, whereas 螺旋 is the more technical term for a three-dimensional helix.
スパイラル
螺旋 is a more technical or literary word for a spiral or helix, while スパイラル is the casual katakana term often used for abstract or figurative spirals like 負のスパイラル.

Don't confuse with

旋せん回かい
螺旋 means a spiral or helical shape, while 旋回 means to turn or circle around; they share only the kanji 旋 and are easily mixed up by learners.

Word family

Written forms

螺ら旋せんUsage56%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
らせんUsage40%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially in scientific or descriptive contexts.
ラセンUsage3%

Etymology

The kanji 螺 (snail, spiral shell) and 旋 (revolve, turn) combine to express a spiral or helix. The reading らせん is the on'yomi of both characters.