What is the difference between "まがる" and "曲がる"?

"まがる" means "to turn, to bend" (N5), whereas "曲がる" represents "to turn, to bend" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "まがる (magaru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

まがる (magaru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

まがる (magaru)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "まがる (magaru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

まがる (Level: N5): Translates to "to turn, to bend" and is used when Used for roads turning or objects bending. 「曲げる.
曲がる (Level: N4): Maps to "to turn, to bend" and carries the nuance of To change direction.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "まがる"

次の角を右に曲がってください。

Please turn right at the next corner.

Bilingual Context 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.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "次の角を右に曲がってください。" (Meaning: "Please turn right at the next corner.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "まがる" is used for "to turn, to bend" in the context: "Please turn right at the next corner.".