ぐるり

ぐ

る

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

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.

See all 8 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉のぐるりに〈物もの〉があるthere is something all around a place
家いえのぐるりに塀へいがある。
There is a wall all around the house.
ぐるりと〈動どう詞し〉to do something in a full circular motion (e.g. look around, surround)
彼かれは部屋へやをぐるりと見み渡わたした。
He looked all around the room.
〈物もの〉をぐるりと囲かこむto encircle something completely
村むらをぐるりと山やまが囲かこんでいる。
Mountains completely encircle the village.

Related words

周まわりN4
周り is the everyday word for 'surroundings' or 'area around', while ぐるり is a more literary or emphatic word for the same idea, often implying a full circuit around something.
周しゅう囲いN3
周囲 is the formal or technical term for 'circumference/surroundings', whereas ぐるり is a more colloquial, descriptive word with the same meaning.
ぐるぐるN2
ぐるり typically describes a single turn or circuit around something, while ぐるぐる emphasizes repeated, continuous circling or winding.

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.

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.