How to say "crook" in Japanese

• 曲げるまげるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the verb sense: to crook or bend something. This is the everyday verb for bending an arm, a finger, wire, and the like; use it whenever English crook works as a verb.
• 湾曲わんきょくCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the noun sense: a crook or bend as a curve in something, such as the curve of an object or line. It names the curve itself rather than the action of bending.
  城しろからそのふもとをゆるやかに湾曲わんきょくして流ながれる川かわ全体ぜんたいが見みえました。↗

  From the castle we could see the whole curve of the river around its base.

Choose 「曲げる」 when crook is a verb meaning to bend something, and 湾曲 when crook is a noun meaning a curve or bend in something; the first describes an action, the second names the shape.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 曲げるまげるto bend
• 湾曲わんきょくcurve
• 不徳漢ふとくかんcrook
• 姦物かんぶつcunning man
• ペテン師ぺてんしswindler
• 悪漢あっかんrascal