Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "渡る" vs "曲がる"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
渡る
わたる (wataru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
曲がる
まがる (magaru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 渡る and 曲がる are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
渡る (わたる (wataru)) represents "to cross" (Level: N4) and typically represents To cross over a linear obstacle like a bridge, road, river, or street. Usually implies moving from one side to the other..
On the other hand, 曲がる (まがる (magaru)) translates to "to turn, to bend" (Level: N4) and is used for To change direction. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "渡る"
信号をよく見て、道を渡りましょう。
Look carefully at the traffic light and cross the road.
Bilingual Sentence for "曲がる"
次の角を右に曲がってください。
Please turn right at the next corner.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "信号をよく見て、道を渡りましょう。" (Meaning: "Look carefully at the traffic light and cross the road.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "渡る" fits here because it represents "to cross" in the context: "Look carefully at the traffic light and cross the road.".