Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "消します", "つける", "まがる", "回る"
All represent the core concept "turn", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
消します
けします (keshimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
つける
つける (tsukeru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
まがる
まがる (magaru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
回る
まわる (mawaru)
N4 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "turn" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "消します", "つける", "まがる", "回る" based on context.
- 消します (けします (keshimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to turn off, to erase" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for switching off electrical appliances or erasing something.
- つける (つける (tsukeru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to turn on, to attach" and is used when Transitive verb. Often used for turning on electronic devices.
- まがる (まがる (magaru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to turn, to bend" and is used when Used for roads turning or objects bending. 「曲げる.
- 回る (まわる (mawaru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to turn; to revolve; to go around" and is used when An intransitive verb. It describes something spinning on its own axis.
Context for "消します"
電灯を消します。
I turn off the light.
Context for "つける"
テレビをつけます。
I turn on the TV.
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.
Context for "回る"
地球は太陽の周りを回っています。
The Earth revolves around the sun.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "電灯を ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I turn off the light.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "消します" is correct here because it represents "to turn off, to erase" in the context: "I turn off the light.".