曲がる

• Reading: まがる
• Romaji: magaru
• Kanji breakdown: 曲 (kyoku/ma) — to bend, to curve, music
• Pronunciation: /ma.ɡa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To bend; to curve; to turn. Used for roads turning, objects bending, or making a turn while walking or driving.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb conjugated with the る ending (曲がって, 曲がった, 曲がります). Essential for giving and following directions: 右に曲がる (turn right), 角を曲がる (turn the corner). Also describes physical bending: 釘が曲がった (the nail bent). The transitive counterpart is 曲げる (to bend something).

Examples

1. あの角を右に曲がってください。 Please turn right at that corner.
2. 道がゆるやかに曲がっています。 The road curves gently.
3. 強い風で木の枝が曲がった。 The tree branch bent from the strong wind.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, navigation, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 曲 depicts a bent or curved shape within a frame, originally representing a vessel with a curved form. It visually captures the concept of something that is not straight.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal