捲る

• Reading: まくる
• Romaji: makuru
• Kanji breakdown: 捲 (ken/maku) — roll up, turn over, flip
• Pronunciation: /ma.kɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To turn over; to flip; to roll up. To turn pages or roll up fabric.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the る row (捲らない, 捲ります). Used for physically flipping pages (ページを捲る), rolling up sleeves (袖を捲る), or peeling back layers. Also used as a verb suffix ～まくる meaning 'to do something vigorously/repeatedly' (食べまくる, to eat tons). Often written in hiragana as めくる.

Examples

1. 古いアルバムのページをゆっくり捲った。 I slowly flipped through the pages of an old photo album.
2. 暑いので袖を捲って作業を始めた。 Since it was hot, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
3. カレンダーを捲ると来月の予定が見えた。 When I flipped the calendar, I could see next month's schedule.

Usage Guide

Context: reading, daily life, clothing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 捲 combines 扌 (hand radical) and 卷 (to roll/scroll). Originally described the physical action of rolling or turning with the hands, as with scrolls in classical East Asia.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal