How to say "curved" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 山なりやまなりno-adjectiveCovers 'curved' in the sense of forming an arch, like a line or path that arcs in a mountain-like shape. A less common word, it is seldom the everyday choice for 'curved'.
- 曲がったまがったprenominal modifierIts core sense is 'bent': a road, line, or object that is no longer straight, and it also covers things warped out of shape. For 'curved' it suits crooked, bending shapes rather than smooth roundness.
- 丸いまるいi-adjectiveA common word whose basic sense is 'round'; its 'curved' use covers smooth, rounded shapes and edges, such as a rounded corner or a smooth stone, where the curve is gentle rather than a bend.
Use 「丸い」 for smooth, rounded shapes and edges, 「曲がった」 for things bent or crooked out of a straight line, and 「山なり」 for lines or paths forming an arch, though it is less common.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
