捲る

めくる

to turn over, to turn pages of a book

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 捲る (めくる) primarily means "to turn over" or "to flip" pages of a book, newspaper, calendar, or similar items. It is commonly used when describing the physical action of flipping pages quickly or casually.

Common Contexts

You will often hear 捲る in everyday situations involving reading materials, such as books, magazines, newspapers, or calendars. It can also describe pages turning due to wind or other forces.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 本を捲る: to turn the pages of a book
  • 新聞のページを捲る: to flip newspaper pages
  • カレンダーを捲る: to turn calendar pages

These collocations emphasize the physical action of flipping pages.

Register and Nuance

捲る is a neutral verb suitable for casual and formal contexts. It is more vivid than simply saying "ページをめくる" because it can imply a quick or forceful flipping.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 捲る with めくれる (the intransitive form meaning "to be turned over" or "to flip by itself"). Remember 捲る is transitive and requires a direct object (e.g., 本を捲る).

Example Sentences

かれはほんをすばやくめくってないようをかくにんした。

He quickly turned the pages of the book to check the contents.

かぜでしんぶんのぺーじがかってにめくってしまった。

The wind blew and the newspaper pages turned over by themselves.

かのじょはかれんだーをまいにちいちまいずつめくっている。

She turns over one page of the calendar every day.