曲折|きょくせつkyokusetsu[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbbending; winding; meandering; zigzagging
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbups and downs; twists and turns; complications; difficulties; vicissitudes
Conjugation
Dictionary form曲折する(きょくせつする)
Polite (masu)曲折します(きょくせつします)
Negative (nai)曲折しない(きょくせつしない)
polite (masen)曲折しません(きょくせつしません)
classical zu / nu曲折せず・曲折せぬ(きょくせつせず・きょくせつせぬ)
Past (ta)曲折した(きょくせつした)
polite (mashita)曲折しました(きょくせつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)曲折しなかった(きょくせつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)曲折しませんでした(きょくせつしませんでした)
Te form曲折して(きょくせつして)
Potential曲折できる(きょくせつできる)
Passive曲折される(きょくせつされる)
Causative曲折させる(きょくせつさせる)
Causative passive曲折させられる(きょくせつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)曲折すれば(きょくせつすれば)
tara曲折したら(きょくせつしたら)
Volitional曲折しよう(きょくせつしよう)
polite (mashou)曲折しましょう(きょくせつしましょう)
Imperative曲折しろ(きょくせつしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym湾曲わんきょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Bow-shaped bending, as in 「背骨の湾曲」; 「曲折」 covers both bends and the twists and turns of events.
  • Synonym屈折くっせつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Refraction of light or a warped, twisted mind, as in 「屈折した感情」; 「曲折」 is about twists and turns in the course of events.
  • Synonym蛇行だこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Moving in a snaking, winding line, as in 「川が蛇行する」; 「曲折」 leans toward ups and downs.
  • Synonym迂曲うきょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Roads that wind and double back; 「曲折」 also describes the twists and turns of events.
  • Synonym屈曲くっきょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Bending of joints or objects; 「曲折」 leans toward roads and the twists of events.
  • Related曲がりまがりCasualColloquial. A bend or corner, as in 「曲がり角」; 「曲折」 is more written and carries the sense of ups and downs.
  • Related曲がりくねるまがりくねるCasualColloquial verb for roads twisting and turning; 「曲折」 is a written noun that also suggests ups and downs.
  • RelatedカーブNeutralLoanword for a turn or a curveball, as in 「急カーブ」; 「曲折」 leans toward twists in the course of events.
  • RelatedうねうねCasualColloquial mimetic word for hills and waves rising and falling, or roads winding on; 「曲折」 is the more written choice.
  • RelatedくねくねCasualColloquial mimetic word for wriggling, twisting movement; 「曲折」 is the more written choice.
  • RelatedくねるCasualColloquial verb for twisting or wriggling the body; 「曲折」 is a written noun.
  • RelatedベンドNeutralLoanword for the bent part of a pipe or rope; 「曲折」 leans toward roads and twists of events.
  • Antonym直線ちょくせんNeutralA straight line; the opposite of 「曲折」 in the bent-versus-straight sense.
  • Antonym平坦へいたんNeutralFlat and uneventful; the opposite of 「曲折」 in the twists-versus-smooth-going sense.

Use 「曲折」 for winding roads and, figuratively, for twists and turns in events, as in 「紆余曲折」 and 「曲折を経る」. For bow-shaped bending use 「湾曲」, for refraction or a warped mind 「屈折」, for snaking movement 「蛇行」; the opposites are 「直線」 and 「平坦」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 折れ曲おれまがること。
  2. 物事ものごとが変化へんかすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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