1.
to swirl, to eddy, to whirl
To move in a spiral or circular pattern, like water forming a whirlpool or smoke spiraling upward.
水が渦巻いている。
The water is swirling.
台風の雲が大きく渦巻いていた。
The typhoon clouds were swirling in a large spiral.
排水口に水が渦巻きながら流れていく。
Water spirals as it flows down the drain.
2.
to swirl, to seethe (emotions, turmoil)
For emotions, thoughts, or social unrest to churn or seethe in a turbulent, unresolved way.
不安が胸の中で渦巻いていた。
Anxiety was churning inside my chest.
怒りと悲しみが渦巻く中、冷静でいるのは難しかった。
It was hard to stay calm while anger and sadness churned inside me.
社内ではさまざまな噂が渦巻いている。
Various rumors are swirling within the company.
USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is common in both spoken and written Japanese. The word vividly conveys chaotic, turbulent motion, making it effective for describing emotional turmoil or social unrest.
The related noun 渦巻 means "spiral" or "whirlpool" and can refer to spiral-shaped objects.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 水が渦巻く: water swirls
- 感情が渦巻く: emotions churn
- 噂が渦巻く: rumors swirl
- 不安が渦巻く: anxiety seethes