曲がる vs 曲げる
JLPT N2 vocabulary · what is the difference?
曲がる is intransitive: something is bent or curved by itself, and — its commonest everyday use — a person or vehicle turns a corner (次の角を右に曲がる). 曲げる is transitive: you bend something with your hands or body (膝を曲げる).
When to use each
曲がる
まがる
Two everyday uses: a thing is crooked or curved (この道は曲がっている), and — far more common — someone turns at a corner. For turning, the direction takes に and the corner or street takes を.
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.
この釘は曲がっていて使えません。
このくぎはまがっていてつかえません。
This nail is bent and unusable.
曲げる
まげる
Use 曲げる when someone bends a thing — a wire, a knee, their back. The bent thing takes を. It is never used for turning a corner.
膝を曲げて、ゆっくり座ってください。
ひざをまげて、ゆっくりすわってください。
Bend your knees and sit down slowly.
針金を曲げて、フックを作りました。
はりがねをまげて、フックをつくりました。
I bent the wire and made a hook.
Sentences where only one works
信号を左に曲がると、駅があります。
しんごうをひだりにまがると、えきがあります。
Turn left at the light and the station is there.
Giving directions always uses 曲がる. 左に曲げる would mean bending the traffic light itself.
背中を曲げないで、まっすぐ立ってください。
せなかをまげないで、まっすぐたってください。
Don't hunch your back — stand up straight.
You are doing it to your own back, so 曲げる with を.
この道は途中で大きく曲がっています。
このみちはとちゅうでおおきくまがっています。
This road curves sharply partway along.
The road's shape, with nobody bending it — 曲がる in the ～ている state form.
Common mistakes
次の角を右に曲げてください。
次の角を右に曲がってください。
The commonest error with this pair. Directions use 曲がる; 曲げてください asks the listener to physically bend the corner.
指が曲げられません。
指が曲がりません。／指を曲げられません。
If the finger won't bend, plain 曲がりません is the natural Japanese. 指を曲げられません is also fine and means you are unable to bend it.
Frequently asked questions
If 曲がる is intransitive, why is it 角を曲がる with を?
That を doesn't mark an object — it marks the place you move through or along, the same を as in 公園を歩く or 橋を渡る. Movement verbs take it even when they are intransitive.
Which particle for the direction, に or へ?
に is standard and by far the most common: 右に曲がる. 右へ曲がる is also correct and sounds slightly more formal or written.
Is 曲がった used for "dishonest"?
Yes, figuratively: 曲がったことが嫌いだ means "I can't stand anything crooked or underhanded." Treat it as a set expression rather than a pattern to build on at N4.