へそを曲まげる

へ

そ

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ま

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へそを曲げる · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	へそを曲まげる	へそを曲まげない
Polite	へそを曲まげます	へそを曲まげません
Past polite	へそを曲まげました	へそを曲まげませんでした
Past	へそを曲まげた	へそを曲まげなかった
Te-form	へそを曲まげて	へそを曲まげないで
Desire	へそを曲まげたい	へそを曲まげたくない
Potential	へそを曲まげられるalso へそを曲まげれる	へそを曲まげられないalso へそを曲まげれない
Passive	へそを曲まげられる	へそを曲まげられない
Causative	へそを曲まげさせる	へそを曲まげさせない
Causative passive	へそを曲まげさせられる	へそを曲まげさせられない
Volitional	へそを曲まげよう
Polite volitional	へそを曲まげましょう
Imperative	へそを曲まげろ	へそを曲まげるな
Conditional	へそを曲まげれば	へそを曲まげなければ
Tara conditional	へそを曲まげたら	へそを曲まげなかったら

Meanings

expression, ichidan verb

sulk; get cranky; get cross; become perverse

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to become sulky, stubborn, or uncooperative, often over something trivial. Literally 'to bend one's navel'.

彼かれはちょっとしたことでへそを曲まげた。
He got sulky over a little thing.
妹いもうとはおもちゃを取とられてへそを曲まげている。
My little sister is sulking because her toy was taken away.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

曲bend, music, melody
臍navel

Related words

すねる
すねる also means to sulk, but is more about pouting or being peevish, often used for children. へそを曲げる implies a more stubborn, uncooperative attitude.
ふくれる
ふくれる means to puff out one's cheeks in a pout; it's a physical expression of sulking, while へそを曲げる is more about the mental state of being cross and uncooperative.

Written forms

へそを曲まげる
Standard kana-kanji mix; the most common written form.
ヘソを曲まげる
Katakana spelling of へそ, sometimes used for emphasis or in casual writing.
臍へそを曲まげる
Kanji form using 臍; rarely used and may be difficult to read.

Etymology

The phrase literally means 'to bend one's navel'. The navel is considered the center of the body, and bending it suggests a twisted or stubborn disposition. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a common idiomatic expression.