bend · tune

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 曲 has 6 strokes and is associated with a bend in direction or shape.
• Basic usage: 曲がる is read まがる, and 曲げる is read まげる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What changes and what is bent
  • 棒が曲がった describes a rod bending, while 針金を丸く曲げて describes the action of bending wire into a round shape.
  • In 角を右に曲がる, を marks the point of turning and に marks the direction. Before 曲がる, を does not necessarily mark an object being bent.