渦うず巻まき

う

ず

ま

き

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

whirlpool; maelstrom; vortex; eddy; swirl

Refers to a swirling body of water or fluid, or metaphorically to any chaotic, spiraling situation.

川かわの渦うず巻まきに巻まき込こまれないように気きをつけて。
Be careful not to get caught in the river's whirlpool.
彼かれは事じ件けんの渦うず巻まきに巻まき込こまれた。
He was drawn into the vortex of the incident.

2

spiral; helix; swirl pattern

Describes a spiral shape or pattern, not necessarily involving fluid motion. Common in design, nature, and abstract descriptions.

貝かい殻がらには美うつくしい渦うず巻まき模も様ようがある。
The shell has a beautiful spiral pattern.
彼かの女じょはノートの隅すみに渦うず巻まきを描かいた。
She drew a spiral in the corner of her notebook.

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Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に渦うず巻まきができるa whirlpool forms in a place
川かわの合ごう流りゅう地ち点てんに大おおきな渦うず巻まきができていた。
A large whirlpool had formed where the rivers met.
渦うず巻まきを描かくto draw a spiral (pattern)
子こ供どもはノートに渦うず巻まきを描かいて遊あそんでいた。
The child was playing by drawing spirals in a notebook.

Kanji

渦whirlpool, eddy, vortex
巻scroll, volume, book

Related words

渦うずN1sense 1
渦 is the short, basic word for a whirl or eddy, while 渦巻き is the fuller descriptive term for the swirling shape or motion itself.
螺ら旋せんN1sense 2
螺旋 is a technical term for a three-dimensional spiral or helix, whereas 渦巻き usually suggests a flat, dynamic swirl.
スパイラル sense 2
スパイラル is a loanword often used for abstract or metaphorical spirals (like a downward spiral of events), while 渦巻き covers both literal and figurative swirls.

Word family

渦うず巻まき形がた
spiral shape; swirl
渦うず巻まき状じょう
spiral; helical
渦うず巻まき線せん
spiral
渦うず巻まき模も様よう
spiral pattern; swirl design
渦うず巻まきポンプ
centrifugal pump

Written forms

渦うず巻まきUsage39%
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana; high-frequency form.
渦うず巻まきUsage42%
Less common abbreviated kanji form without okurigana.
うずまきUsage19%

Etymology

Compound of 渦, “whirlpool” or “vortex,” and 巻き, the noun form of 巻く, “to wind or coil.”