The Kanji: 回 (Kai / Mawa)
The kanji 回 means "to rotate," "to revolve," or "a time/occurrence." It originally depicted a whirlpool, representing circular motion. This character describes both physical rotation and counting occurrences.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 回る (mawaru) - To rotate
地球は太陽の周りを回る。
"The Earth revolves around the Sun."
2. 三回 (sankai) - Three times
この本を三回読んだ。
"I've read this book three times."
3. 回覧 (kairan) - Circulation
書類を回覧する。
"Circulate documents for review."
4. 回収 (kaishū) - Collection
古新聞を回収する。
"Collect old newspapers."
In summary, 回 encompasses circular motion (回る), frequency counting (三回), distribution cycles (回覧), and retrieval processes (回収). It's essential for describing rotation and repetition in Japanese.