1.
one round, one lap, full circuit
Going around something once, completing a full circle or tour.
公園を一回りした。
I went around the park once.
町を一回りして戻ってきた。
I took a walk around the town and came back.
観光地を一回りするのに半日かかった。
It took half a day to make one tour of the tourist spots.
2.
one size bigger or smaller
A noticeable difference in size, used to describe something or someone as distinctly larger or smaller than a reference point.
一回り大きいサイズをください。
Please give me a size one larger.
弟は私より一回り体が大きい。
My younger brother is noticeably bigger than me.
このシャツは一回り小さくなった気がする。
This shirt feels like it shrank a size.
3.
one zodiac cycle (12 years)
A full cycle of the Chinese zodiac, equal to 12 years. Used when describing age differences.
夫は私より一回り上だ。
My husband is one zodiac cycle (12 years) older than me.
一回り年下の後輩と結婚した。
I married a junior colleague who is 12 years younger.
彼女とは干支が同じで一回り違う。
She and I share the same zodiac sign but are one full cycle apart.
USAGE:
Sense 2 is very common in everyday speech. 一回り大きい and 一回り小さい are the most frequent collocations. The size difference is approximate and subjective rather than a precise measurement.
Sense 3 specifically refers to the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle (干支). 一回り上/下 is a common way to describe a 12-year age gap.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一回り大きい: one size bigger
- 一回り小さい: one size smaller
- 一回り上: 12 years older
- 一回り下: 12 years younger
- 一回りする: to go around once