How to say "twist" in Japanese

• ひねるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe everyday verb for physically twisting something — a cap, a knob, a tap or a switch — and for wrenching; when you twist an object by hand, this is the natural choice.
• ねじるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers twisting with a screwing motion — turning something round and round on its axis — and wrenching; it overlaps with ひねる but suggests rotation rather than a bending twist.
  その取っ手とってを右みぎにねじると箱ばこは開ひらきます。↗

  Twist that knob to the right and the box will open.
• 畝るうねるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbSaid of roads, rivers and the like: to wind, meander or snake along. Use it only for this intransitive, path-like twisting, never for twisting an object in your hands.
  川かわはうねるように平野へいやを流ながれている。↗

  The river meanders across the plain.
• 捻挫ねんざCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA noun, not a verb: the 'twist' here is a sprain, the injury a joint suffers when it is wrenched. For twisting as an action, this is not the word you want.
  滑すべって足首あしくびを捻挫ねんざした。↗

  I slipped and twisted my ankle.
• 回すまわすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbChiefly means to turn, rotate or spin; its 'twist' sense is secondary. For simply turning something round this is the word, but for a genuine twisting motion ひねる or ねじる fits better.
  いや、それじゃだめだ。逆ぎゃくになるようにまわしてごらん。↗

  No, that's not the right way. You have to turn it the other way round.

Use 「ひねる」 for twisting objects or turning knobs, 「ねじる」 for a screwing twist, うねる for roads and rivers that wind, ねんざ for a sprained joint, and まわす mainly for turning or rotating.

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

• ひねるto twist
• ねじるto twist
• うねるto wind (of a road, river, etc.)
• 捻挫ねんざsprain
• 回すまわすto turn
• 曲がるまがるto bend
• よじるto twist
• ひねりtwist
• ツイストtwist (dance)
• ねじれtwist
• 縒りよりtwist
• 撚るよるto twist (yarn)
• ねじ向けるねじむけるto twist
• ねじ上げるねじあげるto twist (e.g. someone's arm)
• ひねくり回すひねくりまわすto twist
• 身をよじるみをよじるto twist
• ねじり上げるねじりあげるto twist (e.g. someone's arm)
• 折れ曲がるおれまがるto bend
• くじくto sprain
• ねじ曲げるねじまげるto bend by twisting
• なうto twine (fibers to make rope)
• ひん曲がるひんまがるto bend sharply
• ひん曲げるひんまげるto bend (with great force)
• ねじけるto curve
• ねじくれるto curve
• くねらすto wriggle
• 捻じ曲がるねじまがるto get twisted
• 展開てんかいdevelopment
• 曲げるまげるto bend (the truth)
• もじるto twist
• 歪みゆがみkink (in one's character)
• 歪めるゆがめるto bend (the truth)