Right, left, straight, turn

The words

How they differ

Directions stack like building blocks:

「みぎ に まがります」(migi ni magarimasu): turn right

「ひだり に まがります」(hidari ni magarimasu): turn left

「まっすぐ いって ください」(massugu itte kudasai): please go straight

に (ni) marks the direction you turn toward. For "go straight," pair まっすぐ with いきます / いって from Wave C.

You'll also hear みぎがわ / ひだりがわ (migigawa / hidarigawa) for "right side / left side" near landmarks: 「えき の みぎがわ」(eki no migigawa).

Hands on the road: right · left · straight · turn. みぎ = right hand, ひだり = left hand, まっすぐ = no bend, まがります = bend the path.

One line: みぎ・ひだり・まっすぐ・まがる.

Next: Trains, buses, and stations: でんしゃ / バス / ちかてつ / えき. Directions plus transit get you across town.

See it in a sentence

1. migi ni magatte kudasai

   みぎ に まがって ください。

   Please turn right. (polite)

2. hidari ni magarimasu

   ひだり に まがります。

   I'll turn left. / You turn left. (polite)

3. massugu itte kudasai

   まっすぐ いって ください。

   Please go straight. (polite)

4. tsugi no kado o migi desu

   つぎ の かど を みぎ です。

   Next corner, right. (polite)

5. hidari desu

   ひだり です。

   It's on the left. (polite)

Watch out

みぎ / ひだり = direction words — not the same as まえ / うしろ (front / behind) from Lesson 22 まっすぐ = go straight (no turn) — not "correct" (それ は 正しい is different Japanese) まがります = turn (the path/vehicle) — not "bend" something with your hands in everyday talk

Try it

1. In your next story, find みぎ, ひだり, or まっすぐ. Point with your hand as you say the line out loud.

   Check against the lesson cluster and say it out loud.