Japanese word

曲がる

Pronunciation

Romajimagaru

Meaning

  • verbturn

Example

次の角を曲がります。tsugi no kado o ma ga ri ma su

I turn at the next corner.

Illustration for 曲がる (turn)

More examples

次の角を右に曲がります。tsugi no kado o migi ni ma ga ri ma su

I turn right at the next corner.

この角を曲がると、学校が見えます。ko no kado o ma ga ru to gak kō ga mi e ma su

When you turn at this corner, you can see the school.

Core concept

Captures a change away from a straight line, whether a traveler changes direction or a shape becomes bent.

Common phrases

  • 右へ曲がるmigi e ma ga ru

    turn right

  • 左へ曲がるhidari e ma ga ru

    turn left

  • 交差点を曲がるkō sa ten o ma ga ru

    turn at an intersection

Similar words

回るmawaru: To go around a place or point instead of moving straight through it.

Definition in Japanese

進む方向を変え、まっすぐでない向きになる。また、物の形が弧を描くように変わる。susu mu hō kō o ka e ma ssu gu de na i mu ki ni na ru ma ta mono no katachi ga ko o ega ku yō ni ka wa ru

Word origin

曲がる (magaru) is a native Japanese verb connected with 曲ぐ (magu, "to bend"), an older verb that expresses the same basic change from a straight direction or shape.

Usage tips

  • In simple directions, Japanese often uses 角を曲がる (kado o magaru) for "turn at a corner," a common phrase in everyday conversation.

Other meanings

  • bendverb
  • curveverb

Opposites

  • 直進するchokushinsurugo straightverb

Related words

  • 曲がり方magarikataway of turningnoun

Word lists with this word