Nearshore circulation, produced by a wave‐induced radiation stress gradient, forms different circulation patterns under different wave characteristics and topographical conditions. A more general equation was deduced on the orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system to unify the diversities among related theories and to investigate the nearshore circulation on an arc‐shaped coast. The results show that circulation patterns depend on the flow torque factor which is in turn determined by both the wave characteristics and the topographical conditions. Due to the differences of this torque factor, the straight coast and the arc‐shaped coast will produce different circulation patterns.