転ころがる

こ

ろ

が

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

転がる · godan verb (-ru)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	転ころがる	転ころがらない
Polite	転ころがります	転ころがりません
Past polite	転ころがりました	転ころがりませんでした
Past	転ころがった	転ころがらなかった
Te-form	転ころがって	転ころがらないで
Desire	転ころがりたい	転ころがりたくない
Potential	転ころがれる	転ころがれない
Passive	転ころがられる	転ころがられない
Causative	転ころがらせる	転ころがらせない
Causative passive	転ころがらせられるalso 転ころがらされる	転ころがらせられないalso 転ころがらされない
Volitional	転ころがろう
Polite volitional	転ころがりましょう
Imperative	転ころがれ	転ころがるな
Conditional	転ころがれば	転ころがらなければ
Tara conditional	転ころがったら	転ころがらなかったら

Pairs with転がす

Meanings

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

roll; tumble

Describes something moving by turning over and over, such as a ball, a coin, or a person falling and rolling.

ボールが坂さかを転ころがっていった。
The ball rolled down the hill.
つまずいて階かい段だんから転ころがり落おちた。
I tripped and tumbled down the stairs.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

fall over; roll over; lie down

Covers falling from an upright position, rolling over in place, or lying down casually. The 'lie down' nuance is often a result of falling or rolling.

花か瓶びんが棚たなから転ころがって割われた。
The vase fell off the shelf and broke.
疲つかれて、その場ばに転ころがった。
Exhausted, I just lay down right there.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be scattered about; be lying around

Describes objects left carelessly on the floor, ground, or other surfaces, often implying disorder or neglect.

部屋へやにおもちゃが転ころがっている。
Toys are lying around the room.
道みちに空あき缶かんが転ころがっていた。
An empty can was lying on the road.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

turn out; change (of situation)

Used for situations or outcomes that develop in an unexpected or uncontrolled way, often with a nuance of 'ending up' a certain way.

どう転ころがっても、結けっ果かは同おなじだ。
No matter how it turns out, the result will be the same.
人じん生せい、どこでどう転ころがるかわからない。
You never know how life will turn out.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be common; come easily; fall into one's hands

Often used in negative or rhetorical expressions to say that something is not easily obtained or does not just appear by chance.

そんなうまい話はなしは、そう転ころがっていない。
Such a sweet deal doesn't just come along every day.
チャンスはそこらに転ころがっているものじゃない。
Opportunities aren't just lying around everywhere.

See all 71 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉がゴロゴロと転ころがるfor something to roll along with a rumbling/tumbling sound
ボールが坂さか道みちをゴロゴロと転ころがっていった。
The ball rolled down the slope with a rumbling sound.
〈場ば所しょ〉に転ころがって休やすむto lie down somewhere casually and rest
疲つかれたので芝生しばふに転ころがって休やすんだ。
Being tired, I lay down on the grass to rest.
〈物もの〉が〈場ば所しょ〉に転ころがっているfor an object to be lying scattered somewhere, often carelessly
部屋へやの中なかに本ほんが転ころがっている。
Books are lying scattered around the room.
〈事こと〉が思おもいがけない方ほう向こうに転ころがるfor a situation to take an unexpected turn
交こう渉しょうは思おもいがけない方ほう向こうに転ころがっていった。
The negotiations took an unexpected turn.
〈物もの〉はそう簡かん単たんには転ころがっていないsuch things don't just fall into one's hands easily
そんな幸こう運うんはそう簡かん単たんには転ころがっていない。
Good luck like that doesn't just fall into your lap.

Expressions

転ころがる石いしには苔こけは付つかないa rolling stone gathers no moss

Kanji

転revolve, turn around, change

Transitive / intransitive

転ころがすN2sense 1
転がす is the transitive counterpart meaning 'to roll something', while 転がる is the intransitive 'to roll'.

Related words

倒たおれるN4sense 2
倒れる focuses on falling down from an upright position, often implying collapse, while 転がる includes the rolling or tumbling motion after falling.
落おちるN4sense 1
落ちる means 'to fall' downward in a straight or vertical sense, while 転がる emphasizes rolling or tumbling along a surface.
寝ね転ころぶN1sense 2
寝転ぶ describes deliberately lying down to rest, while 転がる's 'lie down' sense often results from falling or rolling rather than an intentional act.
転ころぶN3
転がる emphasizes rolling or lying flat, while 転ぶ specifically highlights the act of tripping or falling over.

Don't confuse with

転ころぶN3sense 1
転ぶ means a person loses balance and falls down, whereas 転がる describes an object (or a fallen person) actually rolling or tumbling over.
転てんじるN2
転がる means 'to roll' (physical motion), while 転じる means 'to turn/change' (direction, topic, or state), even though both share the kanji 転.
転ころがし
転がし is the noun form tied to the transitive verb 転がす (to roll something), whereas 転がる is the intransitive verb meaning the thing itself rolls, so learners must not treat them as interchangeable.

Word family

寝ねっ転ころがる
lie down; throw oneself down
転ころがり込こむ
roll in; tumble into; come to stay (uninvited) · fall into one's lap; come one's way unexpectedly
寝ね転ころがる
lie down; throw oneself down
転ころがり摩ま擦さつ
rolling friction
転ころがり落おちる
tumble down; roll down

Written forms

転ころがるUsage77%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
ころがるUsage23%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing and when the kanji is not needed.

Etymology

Derived from the transitive verb 転がす (ころがす, 'to roll something'), with the intransitive suffix ～る. The kanji 転 means 'revolve' or 'turn around'.