Japanese word

折る

Pronunciation

Romajioru

Meaning

  • verbfold

Example

紙を折ります。kami o o ri ma su

I fold the paper.

Illustration for 折る (fold)

More examples

シャツをきれいに折って、引き出しにしまいます。sha tsu o ki re i ni o tte hi ki da shi ni shi ma i ma su

I fold the shirt neatly and put it in a drawer.

Core concept

This verb centers on changing an object's shape by bending it until parts overlap or separate, linking folding, breaking, and taking a flower from its stem.

Common phrases

  • 紙を折るkami o o ru

    fold paper

  • 半分に折るhan bun ni o ru

    fold in half

  • 角を折るkado o o ru

    fold the corner

  • 端を折るhashi o o ru

    fold the edge

  • 内側に折るuchi gawa ni o ru

    fold inward

Similar words

畳むtatamu: To fold something into a smaller, flatter, or more compact form.
折り畳むoritatamu: To bend something repeatedly or along several lines into a compact shape.
曲げるmageru: To change the shape or direction of something by bending it.

Definition in Japanese

紙や布などを曲げて重ねること、また、枝や花などを力を加えて付け根から離すこと。kami ya nuno na do o ma ge te kasa ne ru ko to ma ta eda ya hana na do o chikara o kuwa e te tsu ke ne ka ra hana su ko to

Word origin

折る (oru) is a native Japanese simple verb rather than a borrowed or compound word; its central action of bending accounts for its uses with paper, branches, and flowers.

Usage tips

  • English normally uses separate verbs for folding paper, snapping a branch, and picking a flower, while Japanese uses 折る (oru) across these actions when bending or breaking the stem is involved.

Other meanings

  • breakverb
  • pickverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 折り方orikataway of foldingnoun

Word lists with this word