mawari

Mawari is a Japanese term that appears in two common kanji forms, 周り and 回り, both read mawari. The word is used to express concepts related to surrounding things, proximity, and circularity, with nuances tied to the chosen character.

When written as 周り, mawari refers to one's surroundings, vicinity, or the people and things nearby. It can indicate the environment around a person or object, as in phrases meaning “the surrounding circumstances” or “the people around me.” It also extends to a person’s social circle or general milieu. This sense is often paired with particles such as no or ni to indicate possession or location, for example 周りの人 (people around me) or 周りの状況 (surrounding circumstances).

When written as 回り, mawari denotes circumference, rotation, or the action of going around something. It covers the idea of perimeter or the motion of turning, as in the circumference of a circle or clocks’ hands going around. A common compound is 回り道 (mawarimichi), meaning a detour or a roundabout way. In this sense, the term emphasizes motion or boundary rather than the static environment.

In addition to its noun uses, mawari can appear in various phrases with different particles, such as mawari ni (around/about) or mawari no (of the surroundings). The word also exists as a surname, though it is relatively uncommon and transcription may vary.

Related terms include 周囲 (shūi, “surroundings”) and the verb mawaru (to go around).