Japanese word

屈折

Pronunciation

Romajikussetsu

Meaning

  • nounbending

Example

光が屈折します。hikari ga kus setsu shi ma su

Light refracts.

Illustration for 屈折 (bending)

More examples

水中では、光の屈折によって見える位置が変わります。sui chū de wa hikari no kus setsu ni yo tte mi e ru i chi ga ka wa ri ma su

Underwater, the apparent position changes because of the refraction of light.

Core concept

Expresses a change from a straight or original form, whether in a physical shape, a light path, or a grammatical form.

Common phrases

  • 光の屈折hikari no kus setsu

    refraction of light

  • 屈折の法則kus setsu no hō soku

    law of refraction

  • 屈折を調べるkus setsu o shira be ru

    examine refraction

Similar words

屈曲kukkyoku: A change in the shape of something caused by bending it into a curve or angle.
湾曲wankyoku: A curved form produced when a line, surface, or object bends smoothly.
曲がりmagari: A part of a line, route, or object that bends away from a straight form.

Definition in Japanese

物の形や進む方向がまっすぐな状態から曲がること。また、光の進路や語形が変化すること。mono no katachi ya susu mu hō kō ga ma ssu gu na jō tai ka ra ma ga ru ko to ma ta hikari no shin ro ya go kei ga hen ka su ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 屈折 (kussetsu, "bending") combines 屈 (kutsu, "bend") and 折 (setsu, "fold or break").

Usage tips

  • In science texts, 屈折 (kussetsu) describes light changing direction at the boundary between materials, which makes a straw in water appear bent.

Other meanings

  • refractionnoun
  • inflectionnoun

Opposites

  • 直進chokushinstraight-line travelnoun

Related words

  • 屈折するkussetsusurubendverb

Word lists with this word