Meaning
The kanji 丸 (maru) is a straightforward yet versatile character, central to many Japanese ideas about shape, entirety, and totality. It primarily represents 'roundness' and 'circularity.' Its ancient form was literally a circle, directly depicting a sphere or a complete, unbroken shape. This visual history clearly illustrates its main meanings.
Beyond physical roundness, 丸 also means 'wholeness,' 'completeness,' and even 'perfection.' When something is described using 丸, it often suggests it's entire, with no missing parts. It can also imply a situation has been fully and smoothly resolved. For example, it can refer to a whole day (丸一日) or the action of making something round (丸める). This kanji, with its simple three strokes, directly symbolizes a circle. It's taught to second-grade elementary school children in Japan, highlighting its basic importance in the Japanese writing system and daily language.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading for 丸 is ガン (gan). This reading usually appears in more formal compound words, often relating to pills, bullets, or similar spherical or cylindrical objects. It frequently carries an academic or medical context, rather than simply meaning 'roundness' in everyday use. Although less common than its Kun'yomi readings, recognizing its role in these specific compounds is key.
- 弾丸 (dangan) — bullet, projectile. Here, 丸 indicates the bullet's spherical or cylindrical form.
- 丸薬 (ganyaku) — pill, bolus. This compound refers to medication specifically prepared in a round shape.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings of 丸 are used far more often in everyday Japanese. They directly convey the kanji's meanings of 'round,' 'whole,' and 'to make round.' These readings allow 丸 to function as a noun, an adjective, or a verb.
まる (maru): This reading acts as a noun for 'circle,' 'perfection,' or 'whole.' It is also notably used as a suffix for ship names (e.g., 日本丸 - Nippon Maru) and historically for boys' names. It forms the base for various compounds and verb conjugations.
日の丸 (hinomaru) — the Japanese national flag (literally 'sun circle').
丸太 (maruta) — log, timber. Refers to a whole, round piece of wood.
丸ごと (marugoto) — whole, in its entirety. Used to describe something taken or consumed completely.
まるい (marui): This is the adjective form, meaning 'round' or 'circular.' It describes the shape of objects.
丸い顔 (marui kao) — a round face.
月は丸い (tsuki wa marui) — The moon is round.
丸いテーブル (marui teeburu) — a round table.
まるめる (marumeru): This transitive verb means 'to make round,' 'to roll up,' or 'to crumple.' It describes physically making an object round, or figuratively, smoothing over a situation.
紙を丸める (kami o marumeru) — to crumple paper.
体を丸める (karada o marumeru) — to curl up one's body (e.g., when sleeping).
問題を丸める (mondai o marumeru) — to smooth over or settle a problem.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 丸 appears in many compound words, showing its diverse meanings related to shape, completeness, and actions of making things round. These examples demonstrate the core importance of 'maru' in Japanese.
Shape and Form:
丸太 (maruta) — log, timber. This refers to a whole, unprocessed tree trunk.
丸木 (maruki) — round timber, log. Similar to 丸太, emphasizing its round shape.
丸天井 (marutenjou) — dome, vaulted ceiling. Describes a round or arched ceiling.
Completeness and Wholeness:
丸一日 (maru ichinichi) — a whole day, all day long. This emphasizes the entire duration of the day.
丸ごと (marugoto) — whole, in its entirety, completely. Used when something is treated as a single, undivided item.
丸暗記 (maruanki) — rote memorization, learning by heart. This implies memorizing something entirely without necessarily understanding its meaning.
Actions and States:
丸める (marumeru) — to make round, to roll up, to crumple. A flexible verb used for shaping objects.
丸くなる (marukunaru) — to become round, to curl up. This describes the action of something becoming round or curling oneself up.
丸出し (marudashi) — exposed, laid bare, revealed. This implies something is completely visible or uncovered.
Specific Items and Concepts:
日の丸 (hinomaru) — the Japanese flag. Literally 'sun circle.'
丸薬 (ganyaku) — pill, bolus. A round dose of medicine.
弾丸 (dangan) — bullet, projectile. Often round or cylindrical.
Example Sentences
子供は紙を丸めて遊んでいた。
Kodomo wa kami o marumete asonde ita.
The child was playing by crumpling paper.
私の飼っている猫は、よく体を丸めて寝ています。
Watashi no katteiru neko wa, yoku karada o marumete neteimasu.
My pet cat often sleeps curled up.
地球は丸いと知られていますが、完全な球体ではありません。
Chikyuu wa marui to shirareteimasuga, kanzen na kyuutai dewa arimasen.
Although the Earth is known to be round, it is not a perfect sphere.
彼は一日中、丸々本を読んで過ごしました。
Kare wa ichinichijuu, marumaru hon o yonde sugoshimashita.
He spent the entire day reading books.
私の部屋には丸いテーブルがあります。
Watashi no heya ni wa marui teeburu ga arimasu.
There is a round table in my room.
試験のために教科書を丸暗記しました。
Shiken no tame ni kyoukasho o maruanki shimashita.
I memorized the textbook by rote for the exam.
先生は間違いを丸で囲んでくれました。
Sensei wa machigai o maru de kakonde kuremashita.
The teacher circled the mistakes for me.
彼は問題を丸く収めるのが得意です。
Kare wa mondai o maruku osameru no ga tokui desu.
He is good at smoothly resolving problems.
この話は丸ごと信用することはできません。
Kono hanashi wa marugoto shin'you suru koto wa dekimasen.
You cannot believe this entire story.
Memory Tip
Remembering the kanji 丸 is quite simple due to its visual clarity and direct connection to its meaning. Imagine the single dot (丶), which is its radical, as a central point. From this center, two elegant strokes expand outwards to complete a perfectly circular, unbroken shape. It's like picturing a tiny seed blossoming into a full, plump, round fruit, or a small point growing to form a complete and whole entity. This direct representation of 'roundness' or a 'circle' makes 丸 one of the most intuitive kanji to recall, as its form itself acts as a mnemonic.