轆轤(ろくろ)

ろくろ
noun
potter's wheel; lathe
1. potter's wheel
A rotating disc used by potters to shape clay. As the disc spins, the potter uses their hands and tools to pull the clay upward into a symmetrical vessel.
轆轤(ろくろ)を回(まわ)す。
To turn the potter's wheel.
陶芸(とうげい)教室(きょうしつ)で轆轤(ろくろ)を体験(たいけん)した。
I tried using a potter's wheel at a ceramics class.
轆轤(ろくろ)の上(うえ)で粘土(ねんど)がきれいな形(かたち)に変(か)わっていく。
On the wheel, the clay gradually turns into a beautiful shape.
長年(ながねん)轆轤(ろくろ)に向(む)かってきた職人(しょくにん)の手(て)は、迷(まよ)いなく粘土(ねんど)を引(ひ)き上(あ)げた。
The craftsman, who had spent many years at the potter's wheel, pulled the clay up without hesitation.
2. woodturning lathe
A machine that rotates a piece of wood on a horizontal axis so that a chisel or blade held against it can shape it into bowls, handles, or other round objects.
木(き)の器(うつわ)を轆轤(ろくろ)で削(けず)る。
To shape a wooden bowl on a lathe.
轆轤(ろくろ)を使(つか)って椅子(いす)の脚(あし)を仕上(しあ)げた。
He finished the chair legs using a lathe.
工房(こうぼう)には木工(もっこう)用(よう)の大(おお)きな轆轤(ろくろ)が置(お)かれていた。
A large woodworking lathe was set up in the workshop.

An old word of uncertain origin — the kanji 轆轤(ろくろ) are used ateji-style to write a borrowed or native word for "rotating device." The word is often written in hiragana (ろくろ) because the kanji are considered difficult and are outside the standard list. It refers to any of several traditional rotating tools; the two most common meanings are the potter's wheel and the woodworking lathe.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 轆轤(ろくろ)を回(まわ)す: to turn a potter's wheel (or lathe)
  • 轆轤(ろくろ)に向(む)かう: to sit down at the potter's wheel; to work at the lathe
  • 電動(でんどう)轆轤(ろくろ): electric potter's wheel
  • 足(あし)踏(ぶ)み轆轤(ろくろ): kick wheel (foot-operated potter's wheel)
  • 轆轤(ろくろ)挽(び)き: turning on a lathe; wheel-throwing

RELATED TERMS:

  • 陶芸(とうげい): ceramic art; pottery making
  • 粘土(ねんど): clay
  • 焼(や)き物(もの): pottery; ceramics
  • 木工(もっこう): woodworking
  • 職人(しょくにん): craftsman; artisan

USAGE:
Because the kanji are quite obscure, you will most often encounter the word written as ろくろ, especially on signs at pottery classes or in magazine articles about traditional crafts. Sense 1 (the potter's wheel) is the most common modern meaning. The same word historically also named a rotating crane or winch, though that usage has faded.

general
Added 2026.4.12 3:34
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