crooked, bent

JLPT N5 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (qǔ) primarily means "a tune" or "a piece of music," often referring to a song or musical composition. It can also describe something bent or crooked, such as a winding road or a curved shape.

Common Contexts

  • When talking about music, usually refers to a specific song or melody, e.g., 古典 (classical piece).
  • In describing shapes or paths, means bent or winding, e.g., 曲折 (winding road).

Collocations and Patterns

  • 曲子 (qǔzi): a piece of music or song.
  • (qǔdiào): melody or tune.
  • 曲折 (qūzhé): winding, tortuous (often used for roads or situations).

Usage Notes

is often used in formal or literary contexts when referring to music. In everyday speech, 曲子 is more common for "song" or "piece." When describing shapes, emphasizes the bending or twisting nature. Avoid confusing with (gē), which specifically means "song" emphasizing singing rather than the musical composition itself.

Example Sentences

This piece of music is very beautiful and moving.

This road is very winding; be careful when driving.

He likes playing the piano, especially classical pieces.