一回(ひとまわ)り

ひとまわり
noun, adverb
one round; one size (bigger/smaller); one cycle (of zodiac)
sizequantity
1. one round, one lap, full circuit
Going around something once, completing a full circle or tour.
公園(こうえん)を一回(ひとまわ)りした。
I went around the park once.
町(まち)を一回(ひとまわ)りして戻(もど)ってきた。
I took a walk around the town and came back.
観光地(かんこうち)を一回(ひとまわ)りするのに半日(はんにち)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(ひとまわ)り大(おお)きいサイズをください。
Please give me one size larger.
弟(おとうと)は私(わたし)より一回(ひとまわ)り体(からだ)が大(おお)きい。
My younger brother is noticeably bigger than me.
このシャツは一回(ひとまわ)り小(ちい)さくなった気(き)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(おっと)は私(わたし)より一回(ひとまわ)り上(うえ)だ。
My husband is one zodiac cycle (12 years) older than me.
一回(ひとまわ)り年下(としした)の後輩(こうはい)と結婚(けっこん)した。
I married a junior colleague who is 12 years younger.
彼女(かのじょ)とは干支(えと)が同(おな)じで一回(ひとまわ)り違(ちが)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(ひとまわ)り大(おお)きい and 一回(ひとまわ)り小(ちい)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(えと)). 一回(ひとまわ)り上(うえ)/下(した) is a common way to describe a 12-year age gap.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 回(まわ)る (to go around, to revolve)
general
Added 2026.2.15 18:12 · Revised 2026.9.29 10:17
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