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Both words mean "circle", although 丸 has also other meanings. But what's the
nuance between them?
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2015-09-30T05:39:53.550
28393
2015-10-01T06:18:57.270
7405
question
word-choice
Difference between 丸 and 輪 for "circle"
**輪【わ】** is closer to _ring_ or _loop_ rather than _circle_. A 輪 doesn't
necessarily be precisely circular, as long as it forms a loop. For example,
the Japanese word for rubber band is 輪ゴム; it can deform and have a triangular
shape.

**丸【まる】** is a circle typically drawn on a paper, or displayed on a screen
(The circle symbol (`○`) is called 丸). The important nuance of 丸 is that it
must not have a sharp corner/edge. There's an i-adjective 丸い which refers to
any round, cornerless objects. We can even say 丸い三角 (rounded triangle). And [丸
also means 'correct'](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/19016/5010).

And one more:

**円【えん】** : circle [as defined in
geometry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle), which is perfectly-round and
should be drawn by a compass.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-30T07:27:14.080
28394
2015-10-01T06:18:57.270
2017-04-13T12:43:48.447
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5010
28393
answer