Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Turn" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "turn", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
けす
けす (kesu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
転じる
てんじる (tenjiru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "turn" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between けす and 転じる.
In Japanese, けす (けす (kesu)) is typically associated with "to turn off, to erase, to extinguish" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Transitive verb. The opposite of つける.
On the other hand, 転じる (てんじる (tenjiru)) maps to "to turn, to change, to shift, to move to" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Often implies a change in direction, situation, job, or topic. Can be transitive. A literal translation of "turn" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "けす"
電気を消してください。
Please turn off the light.
Bilingual Context for "転じる"
彼女はキャリアをIT業界に転じた。
She shifted her career to the IT industry.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "電気を消してください。" (Meaning: "Please turn off the light.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "けす" fits here because it means "to turn off, to erase, to extinguish" in the context of: "Please turn off the light.". "転じる" represents "to turn, to change, to shift, to move to".