Translation guide
Describes the action of drawing the body into a compact, rounded shape, often for comfort, warmth, or protection. Japanese uses different verbs depending on whether you are curling up your whole body, curling up in bed, or curling up like a ball.
To draw your whole body into a cozy, compact position, often while sitting or lying down.
Literally 'to round one's body'. This is the most common and natural way to say 'curl up' when referring to the whole body.
ソファで体を丸めて本を読んだ。
I curled up on the sofa and read a book.
寒かったので、毛布にくるまって体を丸めた。
It was cold, so I wrapped myself in a blanket and curled up.
To crouch or huddle down, often with knees drawn up. Implies a protective or defensive posture, sometimes due to fear, pain, or cold.
彼は隅でうずくまっていた。
He was curled up in the corner.
Literally 'to hug one's knees'. Describes the specific posture of sitting with knees drawn up to the chest and arms wrapped around them.
彼女はベッドの上で膝を抱えて座っていた。
She was sitting on the bed curled up with her knees hugged to her chest.
To lie in bed with the body drawn up, often under blankets, for warmth or comfort.
To wrap oneself in a futon or blanket. Very natural for describing curling up in bed.
寒い夜は布団にくるまって寝るのが一番だ。
On cold nights, curling up in bed is the best.
To sleep curled up. Uses the verb 丸まる (to become round) to describe the curled posture.
猫が丸まって寝ている。
The cat is sleeping curled up.
To make the body as small and round as possible, often for protection or extreme cold.
To become round; used for curling up into a ball-like shape. Often used for animals or people in a fetal position.
ハリネズミは危険を感じると丸くなる。
A hedgehog curls up into a ball when it senses danger.
彼は寒さで丸くなった。
He curled up into a ball from the cold.
Also used for sleeping in a curled-up ball shape.
赤ちゃんは丸まって寝ている。
The baby is sleeping curled up in a ball.
For thin objects like paper, leaves, or edges to bend or roll up.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to curl up' or 'to become rolled up'. Used for paper, leaves, etc.
紙の端が丸まっている。
The edge of the paper is curled up.
To warp or curl upwards, often used for thin materials like wood or plastic.
湿気で板が反った。
The board curled up from moisture.
体を丸める is a neutral description of curling up for comfort. うずくまる implies a defensive or miserable huddle, often on the ground. Use 体を丸める for cozy situations.
ソファで体を丸める (cozy) vs 道端でうずくまる (miserable)
curling up on the sofa vs huddling on the roadside
カールする is a loanword from English 'curl', but it is mainly used for hair curling or making something into a curl shape. It is not natural for describing a person curling up their body.