What does 曲 mean in Japanese?
曲 means “music, bend” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 曲 (song; tune), 曲がる (to turn; to bend), and 作曲 (composition).
For learners, the key is to study 曲 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: キョク (kyoku)
Kun’yomi: ま-がる (ma-garu), ま-げる (ma-geru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 曲 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
曲 is not limited to one English translation. In 曲 (きょく), it means song; tune; in 曲がる (まがる), it points to to turn; to bend; and in 作曲 (さっきょく), it is used for composition. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 曲（きょく / kyoku） — song; tune
- 曲がる（まがる / magaru） — to turn; to bend
- 作曲（さっきょく / sakkyoku） — composition
- 名曲（めいきょく / meikyoku） — famous song
- 曲線（きょくせん / kyokusen） — curve
- 右に曲がる（みぎにまがる / miginimagaru） — to turn right
Example Sentences
-
好きな曲を聞きました。
すきなきょくをききました。 / Suki na kyoku o kikimashita.
I listened to my favorite song.
-
角を右に曲がってください。
かどをみぎにまがってください。 / Kado o migi ni magatte kudasai.
Please turn right at the corner.
-
友だちは作曲をしています。
ともだちはさっきょくをしています。 / Tomodachi wa sakkyoku o shite imasu.
My friend composes music.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 曲 (きょく / kyoku) because it keeps the core meaning of 曲 clear. Then add 曲がる and 作曲 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 曲 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
曲 means “music, bend” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 曲, 曲がる, and 作曲.