Translation guide
The English verb 'bend' covers a range of actions from physically curving something to changing rules or yielding. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being bent, how, and whether the action is transitive or intransitive.
To apply force to make a straight object curved or angled, such as bending a wire, pipe, or rod.
General transitive verb for bending something flexible or rigid. Works for wires, bars, pipes, and also for bending joints like knees or elbows.
針金を曲げてフックを作った。
I bent the wire and made a hook.
彼はスプーンを簡単に曲げた。
He easily bent the spoon.
To bend by folding or creasing, often used for paper, thin metal, or when a sharp angle is created.
紙を半分に折り曲げてください。
Please bend the paper in half.
Technical term for causing something to curve, often used in engineering or scientific contexts.
熱を加えてパイプを湾曲させる。
Apply heat to bend the pipe.
To describe something that becomes bent by itself, due to force, weight, or natural growth.
General intransitive verb for something bending or curving. Used for roads, trees, objects under weight, etc.
この道は右に曲がっている。
This road bends to the right.
重みで棚が曲がった。
The shelf bent under the weight.
To bend flexibly without breaking, like a fishing rod or a thin branch. Implies elasticity.
To bend under weight or pressure, often used poetically for branches or slender things.
雪で竹がたわんでいた。
The bamboo was bending under the snow.
To flex or move a joint or body part, like bending your knees, elbows, or back.
Same transitive verb as above, used for joints. Often paired with body part + を.
膝を曲げて座ってください。
Please bend your knees and sit down.
腰を曲げてお辞儀をした。
I bent my back and bowed.
Used for bending fingers or toes at the knuckle, often in counting or gestures. Can also mean 'break' so context matters.
When used with larger joints or objects, 折る usually means 'break' or 'snap', not simply 'bend'.
To change or stretch rules, facts, or principles to suit one's needs.
Literally 'bend the rules'. Common phrase for making exceptions or stretching regulations.
彼は規則を曲げて彼女を入れた。
He bent the rules and let her in.
To distort or twist facts, stronger than 'bend'. Implies dishonesty.
彼は事実を歪めて報告した。
He bent the facts in his report.
To submit or give in to someone else's demands or wishes.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to give in' or 'to yield'. Often used in negotiations or arguments.
交渉で相手が折れた。
The other party bent in the negotiation.
Literally 'bend one's will', meaning to compromise one's principles.
彼は自分の意志を曲げなかった。
He didn't bend his will.
To cause light, a trajectory, or a path to curve.
Transitive verb for refracting light or bending a path. Scientific term.
レンズが光を屈折させる。
The lens bends light.
Intransitive verb for light or waves bending.
水中で光が屈折する。
Light bends in water.
曲げる (まげる) means to bend without breaking, while 折る (おる) often implies breaking or snapping. For bending fingers or folding paper, 折る is used, but for bending a wire or a knee, use 曲げる.
針金を曲げる (bend a wire) vs 枝を折る (break a branch)
Bend a wire vs break a branch
The loanword ベンド is rarely used in Japanese except in specific compound terms like ベンドパイプ (bend pipe) or in music (bend a note). For general bending, use native verbs.
道が急に左に曲がっている。
The road bends sharply to the left.
彼は素手で鉄の棒を曲げた。
He bent the metal bar with his bare hands.
彼女は腰を曲げてコインを拾った。
She bent down to pick up the coin.
The fishing rod bent deeply.
Bend your fingers to count numbers.