Marui is the Japanese word for ’round’, explained

What does “marui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “marui” often to mean ’round’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “marui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “marui”
  • Example #1: how to say “round” in Japanese
• Marukunai: the nai form of “marui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not spherical” in Japanese
• Marukatta: the ta form of “marui”
  • Example #3: how to say “were round” in Japanese
• Marukute: the te form of “marui”
  • Example #4: how to say “round and” in Japanese
• Marukereba: the ba form of “marui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if round” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “marui”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “marui”.

• marui – 丸い (まるい) : an i-adjective meaning ’round’ or sometimes ‘spherical’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something in a round or spherical shape.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “round” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kozeni – 小銭 (こぜに) : a noun meaning ‘coin’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kozeni” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “marui”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “marui kozeni” to mean a ’round coin’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing. Anyway, when we want to describe something in a round or spherical shape in Japanese, “marui” is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “marui” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “marukunai”.

Marukunai: the nai form of “marui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “marukunai”.

• marukunai – 丸くない (まるくない) : the nai form of “marui”, which means ‘not round’ or ‘not spherical’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “marukunai” consists of the following two parts:

• maruku – 丸く (まるく) : one conjugation of “marui”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “marukunai” is literally the nai form of “marui” and means ‘not round’ or ‘not spherical’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not spherical” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• tsuki – 月 (つき) : a noun meaning ‘moon’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “marukunai”. When we want to mean ‘not spherical’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Marukatta: the ta form of “marui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “marukatta”.

• marukatta – 丸かった (まるかった) : the ta form of “marui”, which means ‘was round’, ‘was spherical’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “marukatta” consists of the following two parts:

• marukat – 丸かっ (まるかっ) : one conjugation of “marui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “marukatta” is literally the ta form of “marui” and means ‘was round’, ‘was spherical’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “were round” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its possessive case, “kanojo no”, which means ‘her’ in Japanese.
• megane – 眼鏡 (めがね) : a noun meaning ‘glasses’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “marukatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “marui”, this ta form is the best option.

Marukute: the te form of “marui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “marukute”.

• marukute – 丸くて (まるくて) : the te form of “marui”, which means ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “marukute” consists of the following two parts:

• maruku – 丸く (まるく) : one conjugation of “marui”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “marukute” is literally the te form of “marui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “marukute” is very useful when we want to use “marui” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “round and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kawaii – 可愛い (かわいい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cute’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “marukute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kawaii”. When we want to use “marui” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Marukereba: the ba form of “marui”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “marukereba”.

• marukereba – 丸ければ (まるければ) : the ba form of “marui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “marukereba” consists of the following two parts:

• marukere – 丸けれ (まるけれ) : one conjugation of “marui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “marukereba” is literally the ba form of “marui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “marukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if round” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• renzu – レンズ (れんず) : a noun meaning ‘lens’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. This originally came from the pronunciation of “lens”.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “renzu” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• furēmu – フレーム (ふれーむ) : a noun meaning ‘frame’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “furēmu” to make the subject in the second clause with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “marukereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “renzu ga marukereba”, which means ‘if lenses are round’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “marui” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• marui – 丸い (まるい) : an i-adjective meaning ’round’ or sometimes ‘spherical’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• marukunai – 丸くない (まるくない) : the nai form of “marui”, which means ‘not round’ or ‘not spherical’ in Japanese.
• marukatta – 丸かった (まるかった) : the ta form of “marui”, which means ‘was round’, ‘was spherical’, or such in Japanese.
• marukute – 丸くて (まるくて) : the te form of “marui”, which means ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese. When we want to use “marui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• marukereba – 丸ければ (まるければ) : the ba form of “marui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ’round’ or ‘spherical’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.