Translation and Meaning of: 曲 - kyoku

The Japanese word 曲[きょく] is a versatile term that appears in various contexts, from everyday conversations to song lyrics and discussions about art. If you are learning Japanese or simply curious about the meaning and use of this word, this article will explore its different aspects, including translation, origin, and cultural applications. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide clear and accurate explanations for those who wish to understand the language in depth.

Meaning and translation of 曲[きょく]

In its most basic form, 曲[きょく] means "music" or "song." However, its meaning can extend to "melody" or even "musical piece," depending on the context. This word is often used in compositions such as 曲名[きょくめい] (song title) or 作曲[さっきょく] (musical composition).

It is worth noting that 曲 can also mean "curve" or "bend" when read as まがる or まげる, but this is a different interpretation of the same kanji. To avoid confusion, pay attention to the context in which the word appears, as the reading and meaning change completely.

Origin and use of the kanji 曲

The kanji 曲 is composed of the radical 曰 (which indicates "to speak" or "to say") and the component 木 (which means "wood"). Originally, it represented the idea of something twisted or curved, which explains its dual meaning. Over time, it also became associated with melodies, possibly due to the idea of "sound lines" that move in curves.

In modern Japanese, 曲[きょく] is widely used in musical contexts. You will find it in song lyrics, TV programs about artists, and even in informal conversations about favorite bands. Its frequency of use is high, especially in discussions about entertainment and pop culture.

Trivia and memorization tips

An effective way to remember the meaning of 曲[きょく] is to associate it with everyday situations. For example, think about how songs have "curves" in their melodies, rising and falling in different tones. This mental image can help reinforce the kanji and its main meaning.

Additionally, an interesting fact is that many anime and Japanese dramas use 曲 in the titles of episodes or soundtracks. If you are a fan of Japanese culture, paying attention to these details can naturally and enjoyably enhance your vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 楽曲 (gakyoku) - Musical composition, usually a more formal piece.
• 音楽 (ongaku) - Music, in general, covering all styles and genres.
• 作品 (sakuhin) - Work, which may refer to any type of artistic creation, including music.
• 作曲 (sakkoku) - Composition, the act of creating a musical piece.
• メロディー (merodī) - Melody, the sequence of notes that forms a musical line.

曲

Romaji: kyoku
Kana: きょく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: music; musical

Meaning in English: tune;piece of music

Definition: A combination of sounds represented by a musical score designed to create music.

Example Sentences - (曲) kyoku

See below some example sentences:

婉曲なメロディーが心に響く。

Wankyoku na merodii ga kokoro ni hibiku

A soft melody resonates in my heart.

The melody of the euphony resonates in the heart.

• 婉曲な - adjective that means "soft" or "melodious"
• メロディー - noun that means "melody"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 心に - expression that means "in the heart"
• 響く - a verb that means "reverberate" or "echo"

カーブを曲がる前には注意が必要です。

Kābu wo magaru mae ni wa chūi ga hitsuyō desu

Before making a turn

Be careful before turning the curve.

• カーブ - curve
• を - object particle
• 曲がる - turn, fold
• 前に - before
• は - Topic particle
• 注意が必要です - It is necessary to be careful.

音色が美しい曲を聴くのが好きです。

Onsoku ga utsukushii kyoku wo kiku no ga suki desu

I like listening to music with beautiful tones.

• 音色 - som/timbre
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• 曲 - music
• を - direct object particle
• 聴く - to hear
• の - nominal particle
• が - subject particle
• 好き - like
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

道は左に曲がる。

Michi wa hidari ni magaru

The road turns left.

The road turns left.

• 道 - means "path" in Japanese
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 左 - means "left" in Japanese
• に - is a grammatical particle that indicates the direction or location
• 曲がる - means "turn" or "fold" in Japanese

曲線美は日本の美意識の一つです。

Kyuusenbi wa Nihon no biishiki no hitotsu desu

The beauty of curves is one of the aesthetic sensibilities of Japan.

The beauty of curvature is one of Japan's aesthetics.

• 曲線美 - the beauty of curves
• は - Topic marking particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 美意識 - sense of beauty
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• です - verb to be in the polite form

左に曲がってください。

Hidari ni magatte kudasai

Please turn left.

Turn left, please.

• 左 - means "left" in Japanese.
• に - is a particle that indicates the direction in which something is moving or the location of something.
• 曲がって - is the Japanese form of the verb "to bend", in the present tense and in the imperative.
• ください - is a polite Japanese expression meaning "please" or "do this for me".

右に曲がってください。

Migi ni magatte kudasai

Turn right, please.

Please turn right.

• 右 - means "right" in Japanese.
• に - is a particle that indicates the direction in which the action should be performed.
• 曲がって - is the verb "to bend" conjugated in the imperative, indicating that the action must be carried out.
• ください - is a polite expression that means "please", indicating that the action is a request.

交差点で右に曲がってください。

Kousaten de migi ni magatte kudasai

Please turn right at the intersection.

Turn right at the intersection.

• 交差点 - means "crossing" in Japanese.
• で - is a particle that indicates the place where the action takes place, in this case, "at the intersection".
• 右に - means "to the right" in Japanese.
• 曲がって - is the verb "curver" in the present tense and in the form -te, which indicates a continuous action.
• ください - is a polite way of asking for something in Japanese, in this case, "please turn to the right."

この棒を曲げるのは難しいです。

Kono bou wo mageru no wa muzukashii desu

Folding this stick is difficult.

It's hard to double this baton.

• この - indicates proximity, in this case, "this"
• 棒 - means "stick"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 曲げる - verb meaning "to bend"
• の - particle that transforms the verb into a noun, in this case, "fold"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• 難しい - adjective meaning "difficult"
• です - verb that indicates the polite and polished way of speaking, in this case, "é"

この曲の節はとても美しいです。

Kono kyoku no fushi wa totemo utsukushii desu

The clause of this song is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 曲 - noun meaning "music"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 節 - noun meaning "stretch" or "section"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form