丸

• Reading: まる
• Romaji: maru
• Kanji breakdown: 丸 (maru/gan) — circle, round, whole
• Pronunciation: /ma.ɾɯ/

Meaning

Circle; round shape; full (as in a complete month or day). Also used as the circle mark for 'correct.'

A noun with multiple uses. As a shape, it refers to circles and round objects. In Japanese education, 丸 (○) is the mark for a correct answer, opposite of × (batsu). It also appears in expressions like 丸一日 (a whole day) and 丸ごと (entirely). As a suffix, it traditionally appears in ship names like 日本丸.

Examples

1. 先生がテストに丸をつけてくれた。 The teacher marked my test with circles for correct answers.
2. 丸一日かけてレポートを書いた。 I spent a whole day writing my report.
3. このケーキは丸い形に焼いてください。 Please bake this cake in a round shape.

Usage Guide

Context: education, shapes, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 丸 depicts a person crouching into a ball shape. Originally meant 'round' or 'to make round,' later extended to mean completeness and wholeness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal