転々(てんてん)

てんてん
adverb
from place to place; wandering; changing repeatedly
1. from place to place; wandering about
Moving repeatedly from one location to another.
仕事(しごと)を求(もと)めて転々(てんてん)とした。
I wandered from place to place looking for work.
彼(かれ)は転々(てんてん)と住所(じゅうしょ)を変(か)えている。
He keeps changing his address repeatedly.
Frequent relocation
各地(かくち)を転々(てんてん)と旅(たび)した。
I traveled from place to place.
2. changing hands repeatedly
Passing from one owner or possessor to another multiple times.
この絵(え)は転々(てんてん)と持(も)ち主(ぬし)を変(か)えてきた。
This painting has changed hands many times.
この土地(とち)は転々(てんてん)と持(も)ち主(ぬし)が変(か)わった。
This land changed owners repeatedly.
盗品(とうひん)は転々(てんてん)と売(う)りさばかれた。
The stolen goods were sold from person to person.

転々(てんてん) is a reduplication of 転(てん) (to roll; to turn; to change), describing repeated movement or transfer.

USAGE:

  • 転々(てんてん)とする (to wander from place to place)
  • 転々(てんてん)と変(か)える (to change repeatedly)
  • 転々(てんてん)と暮(く)らす (to live moving from place to place)

NUANCE:
This word often implies instability or restlessness - someone who can't settle down or something that keeps getting passed around.

HOMOPHONE:
点々(てんてん) - has the same reading but different meaning (here and there; dotted about). Different kanji.

CONTRAST:

  • 転々(てんてん) (rolling/moving repeatedly)
  • 点々(てんてん) (scattered dots)

Related Words

Contrast: 点々(てんてん) (homophone: here and there)
general
Added 2026.1.13 16:20 · Revised 2026.3.2 13:17
03500/03975_tenten