曲がる
magaru[ma̠ɡa̠ɾɯ̟]
The Japanese word for 'turn' is 曲がる (magaru).
曲がる is a verb used to describe changing direction or orientation, typically by rotation. When specifying the direction you are turning into, use the particle に (ni), such as in 左に曲がる (turn left).
Meaning: transitive: change the direction or orientation of, especially by rotation (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form of the verb is 曲がります (magarimasu), and the past tense form is 曲がった (magatta).
How do you pronounce it?
magaru
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the intransitive verb 曲がる (magaru), which means 'to turn', with the transitive verb 曲げる (mageru), which means 'to bend something'.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for 'song' or 'piece of music' is 曲 (kyoku), which shares the same kanji character as 曲がる. This suggests a conceptual link between 'turning' or 'bending' and the melodic curves of music.
- In certain contexts, describing a person as 曲がっている (magatte iru) does not mean they are physically bent, but rather that they are 'crooked' or dishonest in character.
- While 曲がる means 'to turn', the noun form 曲がり角 (magarikado) refers to a street corner and is a common setting for romantic encounters or fate-driven meetings in Japanese cinema and literature.
Examples in context
- 左に曲がると、カフェがあるわ。Turn left, and you'll find the café.This sentence is useful for practicing directions with 曲がる.Tatoeba #11065730 by small_snow, translation #9464804 by sundown
- 左に曲がると、白い建物があります。If you turn to the left, you'll see a white building.Tatoeba #11444719 by small_snow, translation #243554 by CK
- 右に曲がると、うちの事務所があるよ。Turn to the right, and you'll find my office.Tatoeba #12990626 by bunbuku, translation #27059 by al_ex_an_der
- 交差点を右に曲がってください。Please turn right at the intersection.
- 右折して、直進してください。Make a right turn and proceed.
- 左に曲がってください。Please turn left.
- 右に曲がって、直進して。Turn right and go straight.
- 左に曲がって！Turn left!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 曲がる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
