The Meaning of kaiten [回転] In Japanese

回転
かいてん
Romaji: kaiten N5

What does 回転 mean?

Translation and Meaning

rotation, turning, spin, revolution

Definition

回転 means rotation or turning; it describes the act of turning around an axis or circular path, and is used for physical rotation, rotational systems, or metaphorical rotation of roles or duties.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Physical rotation: the act of turning around an axis, producing circular motion.
  • Rotating devices and phenomena: wheels, gears, conveyor belts, revolving doors, turntables.
  • Conveyor sushi: the practice of serving plates on a rotating belt in restaurants (kaiten-zushi).
  • Rotation of roles or duties: assigning tasks in a rotating schedule or shift system.
  • Rotation speed or angle: used in physics/engineering as a measure of how fast something turns, often described with 回転数 or 回転角.

Etymology

回 (kaiten) to turn, circle back; 転 (ten) to roll, turn; together they denote turning around, a core concept leading to rotation.

Composition

  • 回: to turn again; circle; repetition
  • 転: to roll; turn; change

Usage

Used in everyday speech to describe objects that turn or rotate; in scientific and technical contexts as a term for rotational motion and devices; in hospitality and consumer culture for conveyor-belt sushi (回転寿司) and revolving doors; formal discourse often uses compound forms like 回転運動 to specify rotational movement.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: the left radical 回 forms a circle with a tail, suggesting a loop that returns; combined with 転 as turning a wheel, Kaiten visually cues turning around a circle, helping memorize rotation concepts.

Variations

  • 回転 (kaiten) – rotation; general sense
  • 旋回 (senkai) – turning or circling, often for aircraft or vehicles
  • 循環 (junkan) – circulation or cycle
  • 回転寿司 (kaitenzushi) – conveyor belt sushi

Example Phrases

  • 朝、回転寿司で並んで、回転を楽しむ。
    Asa, kaiten-zushi de narande, kaiten o tanoshimu.
    In the morning, I queue at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant and enjoy the rotation.
    Lista:
    • 朝 (asa) – morning
    • 回転寿司で (kaiten-zushi de) – at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant
    • 並んで (narande) – queue
    • 回転を (kaiten o) – rotation
    • 楽しむ (tanoshimu) – enjoy
    Here, 「回転」 is a noun meaning rotation; it is the object of 楽しむ through を, indicating what is being enjoyed.
回転