掻(か)き回(まわ)す

かきまわす
godan verb
to stir, to mess up, to throw into confusion
1. to stir, to churn
To mix something by moving it around in a circular motion.
スープを掻(か)き回(まわ)す。
Stir the soup.
卵(たまご)をよく掻(か)き回(まわ)してください。
Please stir the eggs well.
ボウルの中(なか)を泡立(あわだ)て器(き)で掻(か)き回(まわ)した。
I stirred the contents of the bowl with a whisk.
2. to rummage through, to search around
To search through something in a disorderly way.
かばんの中(なか)を掻(か)き回(まわ)して鍵(かぎ)を探(さが)した。
I rummaged through my bag looking for my keys.
引(ひ)き出(だ)しを掻(か)き回(まわ)しても見(み)つからなかった。
I rummaged through the drawer but couldn't find it.
本棚(ほんだな)を掻(か)き回(まわ)して、やっと目当(めあ)ての本(ほん)を見(み)つけた。
After rummaging through the bookshelf, I finally found the book I was looking for.
3. to mess up, to throw into confusion
To disrupt order or cause chaos, often in social situations.
彼(かれ)は職場(しょくば)を掻(か)き回(まわ)すタイプだ。
He's the type to stir up trouble in the workplace.
余計(よけい)なことを言(い)って場(ば)を掻(か)き回(まわ)さないで。
Don't say unnecessary things and stir up trouble.
あの人(ひと)が来(く)ると、いつも会議(かいぎ)が掻(か)き回(まわ)される。
Whenever that person comes, the meeting always gets thrown into confusion.

A versatile verb with physical and figurative meanings.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜を掻(か)き回(まわ)す (to stir/rummage through/mess up ~)
  • 場(ば)を掻(か)き回(まわ)す (to disrupt a situation)
  • 人(ひと)の心(こころ)を掻(か)き回(まわ)す (to disturb someone's peace of mind)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 混(ま)ぜる: to mix
  • かき混(ま)ぜる: to stir, to mix
general
Added 2026.2.4 15:17
09500/09915_kakimawasu