曲がり角（まがりかど、magarikado）
- corner

The Japanese word 曲がり角 （まがりかど） primarily means "corner" or "turning point," particularly a corner in a road or a point where a road curves. It can also figuratively represent a "crossroads" or a "critical juncture" in life or a situation. 曲がり角 implies a change of direction, a transition, or a point of decision.

⚫︎その曲がり角を右に曲がってください。 Translation: Please turn right at that corner. ⚫︎人生の曲がり角に立っている。 Translation: I am at a crossroads in my life. ⚫︎会社の業績は、今年の終わりには曲がり角を迎えるでしょう。 Translation: The company's performance will reach a turning point at the end of this year.

⚫︎Use 曲がり角 when referring to a physical corner in a street or path. ⚫︎Use it figuratively to describe a significant moment, a decision point, or a change of direction in a personal or business context. ⚫︎Appropriate for both formal and informal conversations, depending on the context.

⚫︎The standard writing is 曲がり角 using kanji. ⚫︎The reading is まがりかど using hiragana. ⚫︎Variations in okurigana (suffix hiragana) are not common in this word.

⚫︎角（かど）： Corner (physical) ⚫︎分岐点（ぶんきてん）： Turning point, point of divergence ⚫︎転換期（てんかんき）： Turning point, transition period ⚫︎分かれ道（わかれみち）： Crossroads

There are no single direct antonyms, as 曲がり角 describes a position or situation rather than an action. However, concepts that represent the opposite of change or turning, such as stability, or continuity could be considered, depending on the context.

この道は次の曲がり角で右に曲がります。 ・Translation: This road turns right at the next corner. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 曲がり角 to indicate the physical location of a turn.

彼は人生の曲がり角に立ち、新しい道を探している。 ・Translation: He is at a crossroads in his life and is looking for a new path. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 曲がり角 metaphorically to represent a significant decision or change in life.

The word 曲がり角 is a compound word. 曲がる（まがる） means "to bend" or "to turn." 角（かど） means "corner." Thus, 曲がり角 literally translates to "bending corner" or "turning corner".