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道Nihongo Path
曲

曲·bend, turn, tune, musical piece

On-yomi
キョク
Kun-yomi
まがるまげる

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

6 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
曲がるまがるto turn, to bend
曲きょくsong, musical piece
作曲さっきょくmusical composition
曲げるまげるto bend (something)

Example sentences

  1. 次の角を右に曲がってください。

    つぎのかどをみぎにまがってください。

    Please turn right at the next corner.

  2. この曲が大好きです。

    このきょくがだいすきです。

    I love this song.

  3. 彼は十八歳で作曲を始めたそうです。

    かれはじゅうはっさいでさっきょくをはじめたそうです。

    I hear he started composing at eighteen.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 作曲 as *さくきょく instead of さっきょく
  • Mixing up 曲がる (intransitive, something turns) with 曲げる (transitive, you bend it)

Memory aid

Picture it

A boxy shape with bars bending out of the top — think of a bent piece of bamboo, and a melody that bends up and down.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 曲 mean?