Translation guide
How to express changing direction in Japanese, covering physical movement, figurative shifts, and specific contexts like vehicles or wind.
To alter the course or path of movement, such as walking, running, or moving an object.
The most common and neutral way to say 'change direction'. Literally 'change direction'. Suitable for both people and objects.
彼は急に方向を変えた。
He suddenly changed direction.
The wind changed direction.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to turn' or 'to bend'. Used when the subject itself changes direction, like a road or a person turning a corner.
次の角を右に曲がってください。
Please turn right at the next corner.
この道は急に曲がっている。
This road curves sharply.
Transitive verb meaning 'to bend' or 'to turn' something. Used when someone changes the direction of an object.
彼はハンドルを左に曲げた。
He turned the steering wheel to the left.
Similar to 方向を変える but often implies changing the orientation or facing direction, rather than the path of movement.
彼は体の向きを変えた。
He turned his body (changed his facing direction).
To shift the course of a plan, policy, conversation, or trend.
A common suru-verb meaning 'to change direction' or 'to shift course', often used for policies, strategies, or life paths.
会社は事業の方向転換を決めた。
The company decided to change the direction of its business.
彼は人生の方向転換を考えている。
He is thinking about changing the direction of his life.
Specifically means 'to change policy' or 'to change course of action'. More formal and business-like.
政府は経済方針を変えた。
The government changed its economic policy.
Literally 'change the route', but often used figuratively for political or organizational lines. Can also be used literally for transportation routes.
党は政策路線を変更した。
The party changed its policy line.
To change the direction of a car, bicycle, or other vehicle, including turning at intersections or changing lanes.
The standard verb for turning a vehicle. Use with を to indicate the corner or direction.
あの車は左に曲がった。
That car turned left.
Specifically means 'to change lanes'. A suru-verb used in driving contexts.
高速道路で車線変更するときは注意が必要だ。
You need to be careful when changing lanes on the highway.
Literally 'cut the steering wheel', meaning to turn the steering wheel sharply. Used in driving.
彼は急にハンドルを切った。
He suddenly turned the steering wheel.
To describe the wind or weather patterns shifting.
The natural expression for 'the wind changes direction'. 風向き means wind direction.
突然風向きが変わった。
The wind suddenly changed direction.
A simpler way to say the wind changes, but less specific about direction.
午後から風が変わるでしょう。
The wind will change in the afternoon.
方向 (ほうこう) refers to the direction of movement or a line, while 向き (むき) refers to the orientation or facing of an object. Use 方向を変える when changing the path of movement, and 向きを変える when turning something to face a different direction without necessarily moving from the spot.
ロボットが方向を変えて進んだ。
The robot changed direction and moved forward.
彼は椅子の向きを変えた。
He turned the chair around.
When giving directions like 'turn right at the next corner', use 曲がる (まがる), not 方向を変える. 方向を変える sounds too abstract for simple turns.
次の角を右に曲がってください。
Please turn right at the next corner.