Translation guide
The English word "twist" covers many distinct actions and concepts. This guide breaks them down into practical meanings for learners, from physical twisting to unexpected turns in stories.
To turn an object, especially with your hand, like a knob or lid.
General verb for turning or rotating something. Use for twisting a knob, steering wheel, or lid.
ドアノブを回してください。
Please twist the doorknob.
彼はハンドルを右に回した。
He twisted the steering wheel to the right.
Often implies twisting with fingers or a quick, light turn. Common for twisting a faucet or a small knob.
蛇口をひねって水を出した。
I twisted the faucet and turned on the water.
Implies twisting with force, like wringing a towel or twisting someone's arm. Can sound more forceful than ひねる.
彼はタオルをねじって絞った。
He twisted the towel to wring it out.
To move your body into a twisted position, like turning your torso or ankle.
Used for twisting a body part, like your ankle or waist. Often in the phrase 足をひねる (sprain/twist an ankle).
階段で足をひねってしまった。
I twisted my ankle on the stairs.
腰をひねるストレッチをしましょう。
Let's do a stretch that twists your waist.
Can also be used for twisting the body, but often implies a stronger or more unnatural twist.
To describe a path that curves or winds.
Describes something that twists and turns repeatedly, like a winding road or river.
道は山の上まで曲がりくねっていた。
The road twisted up the mountain.
Often used for a road or river that undulates or winds gently. Can also describe hair or waves.
To wind or coil something around itself or something else.
General verb for twisting flexible things together, like wires or a rope.
針金をねじって留めた。
I twisted the wire to fasten it.
Specifically means to twist fibers into thread or strands into rope. Common in crafting contexts.
彼女は毛糸をよって糸を作った。
She twisted the wool into yarn.
Means to entwine or twist around something else, often used for vines or arms.
To change the meaning of words or facts in a dishonest way.
To bend or distort the truth, facts, or rules. Often used in 事実を曲げる (distort the facts).
彼は自分の都合のいいように話を曲げた。
He twisted the story to suit himself.
Implies a more severe distortion, often with a negative connotation. Can be used for facts or facial expressions.
A surprising turn of events, especially in a plot.
A sudden plot twist or reversal. Very common in discussions of movies, novels, etc.
この映画の最後には驚くなどんでん返しがある。
There's a surprising twist at the end of this movie.
Literally 'unexpected development'. A more general phrase for any surprising turn in a story or situation.
物語は意外な展開を見せた。
The story took an unexpected twist.
A twisting dance movement, like the twist dance from the 1960s.
The loanword for the twist dance. Use this when referring to the specific dance style.
彼らはツイストを踊った。
They danced the twist.
A strange or ironic turn of events, often used in phrases like 'twist of fate'.
Literally 'a prank of fate'. The most natural way to express a twist of fate in Japanese.
それは運命のいたずらとしか思えない。
I can only think of it as a twist of fate.
An ironic coincidence or twist of circumstances. More formal/literary.
それは皮肉な巡り合わせだった。
It was an ironic twist of fate.
These three verbs all involve turning, but they differ in nuance. 回す (まわす) is the most general and neutral for rotating something. ひねる implies a lighter, often finger-based twist, like turning a faucet or twisting an ankle. ねじる suggests a stronger, more forceful twist, like wringing a towel or twisting an arm. For body parts, ひねる is more common for accidental twists (sprains), while ねじる can be used for intentional, forceful twisting.
The loanword ツイスト is mainly used for the dance or sometimes in product names (like a 'twist' cap). It is not a general translation for the verb 'to twist'. Use the appropriate Japanese verb based on the context.
I twisted my body to look behind.
The river twists through the plain.
ツタがフェンスにからまっている。
The ivy is twisted around the fence.
メディアが事実を歪めて報道した。
The media twisted the facts in their report.