二回(ふたまわ)り

ふたまわり
noun
two rounds; two sizes (bigger/smaller); 24 years apart in the zodiac
quantity
1. two sizes (bigger or smaller); much larger/smaller
Used to describe a noticeable difference in size, typically saying something is two sizes bigger or smaller than expected or than something else.
彼(かれ)は私(わたし)より二回(ふたまわ)り大(おお)きい。
He's two sizes bigger than me.
ダイエットで二回(ふたまわ)り小(ちい)さくなった。
I became two sizes smaller from dieting.
二回(ふたまわ)り大(おお)きいサイズの靴(くつ)を買(か)ってしまった。
I accidentally bought shoes two sizes too big.
2. two cycles of the zodiac; 24 years apart
In the Chinese zodiac system, one cycle is 12 years. Two cycles means a 24-year age difference.
二回(ふたまわ)り年上(としうえ)の人(ひと)と結婚(けっこん)した。
She married someone 24 years older.
二回(ふたまわ)り違(ちが)うと同(おな)じ干支(えと)になる。
If there's a two-cycle difference, you have the same zodiac sign.
二回(ふたまわ)り下(した)の後輩(こうはい)と一緒(いっしょ)に働(はたら)いている。
I'm working with a junior colleague who is 24 years younger.

Usage

Sense 1 is very common in everyday speech when comparing sizes. Sense 2 relates to the 干支(えと) (Chinese zodiac), where one full cycle is 12 years. Compare with 一回(ひとまわ)り (one size; 12 years apart).

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.3.22 18:01 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18577_futamawari