巻く

• Reading: まく
• Romaji: maku
• Kanji breakdown: 巻 (kan/ma) — roll, wind, volume
• Pronunciation: /ma.kɯ/

Meaning

To wind; to coil; to roll up. Wrapping something around or rolling into a cylindrical shape.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. Wide range of uses: マフラーを巻く (wrap a scarf), 包帯を巻く (wrap a bandage), 寿司を巻く (roll sushi), 時計のねじを巻く (wind a clock). Also used figuratively: 巻き込む (to get involved/dragged into). The counter 巻 (kan) is used for volumes of books.

Examples

1. 寒いからマフラーを首に巻いた。 It was cold so I wrapped a scarf around my neck.
2. けがをした腕に包帯を巻いてもらった。 They wrapped a bandage around my injured arm.
3. 子供たちと一緒に巻き寿司を作った。 I made rolled sushi together with the kids.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, daily life, first aid

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 巻 depicts a hand rolling something, representing the action of winding or coiling.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal