Japanese symbol for “rotate”

In Japanese, rotate is 回す, read まわす (mawasu).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

1. v5s, vt to turn; to rotate; to spin; to twist; to gyrate
2. v5s, vt to pass around; to send around; to hand around; to circulate
3. v5s, vt to move (someone or something to where its needed); to send; to bring; to transfer; to forward; to direct
4. v5s, vt to turn (to a new use); to use (for something else)
5. v5s, vt to turn on (something that turns or has a rotating part, e.g. a washing machine); to start up (e.g. an engine); to give (something) a spin
6. v5s, vt to put (someone in a position); to make (e.g. an enemy of)

Written forms: 回す、廻す. Readings: まわす.

Kanji and stroke order

↻ Replay stroke order

Other Japanese words for “rotate”

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

See also: Chinese symbol for “rotate”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.