曲

• Physical/Spatial: Bent, curved, winding (adj.); to bend or flex (v.); a curve or corner of a room (n.).
• Musical: A song, melody, or specific musical composition.
• Moral/Abstract: Devious, circuitous, dishonest, or "wrong." Often appears in direct opposition to 直 (straight/honest), suggesting a lack of transparency.

Functions as an adjective (modifying shape or character), a verb (the act of bending), and a noun (a physical curve or a piece of music).

Contrasted with 屈: while both involve bending, 曲 typically refers to the geometry of the bend (curved/winding), whereas 屈 often implies force—such as compression, submission, or being oppressed.

Variants include U+66F2 and U+9EAF.

When encountering a "bend," the translator should determine if the context suggests a natural or artistic curve (曲) or a forced or coerced bend (屈).