Onyomi: コウ · Kunyomi: -む.き, -む.け, む.い, む.かい, む.かう, む.く, む.ける, む.こう, む.こう-, むか.い, むこ · Meanings: approach, beyond, confront, defy, facing, tend toward, yonder
Kanji for approach, beyond, confront, defy, facing
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向 is formed as a single character centered around 口, meaning an opening. The structure represents an opening facing a certain direction. From this idea of facing toward an opening or direction, 向 came to mean to face, turn toward, or direction. It is also used to indicate orientation or intention toward something.
向 shows facing toward a direction, meaning to face or turn toward.
向 is used when something is directed toward another thing. It refers to facing, turning, or being oriented in a certain direction. Remember 向 as meaning “toward” or “facing.”
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 向こう | むこう | opposite side, other side | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 向かう | むかう | to face | common JLPT-N4 JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'u' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 向き | むき | direction, orientation, aspect, exposure | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Noun, used as a suffix |
| 向い | むかい | facing, opposite, across the street, other side | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 向ける | むける | to turn (towards), to face, to point, to aim, to direct to | common JLPT-N3 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 向く | むく | to turn toward, to look (up, down, etc.) | common JLPT-N3 Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |
| 向上 | こうじょう | elevation, rise, improvement, advancement, progress | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 向け | むけ | intended for ..., oriented towards ..., aimed at ... | common JLPT-N1 Noun, used as a suffix |
| 向こう側 | むこうがわ | other side, opposite side, other party | common Noun |
| 向かい合う | むかいあう | to face each other, to be opposite (to) | Godan verb with 'u' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 向き合う | むきあう | to be opposite, to face each other | Godan verb with 'u' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 向かい側 | むかいがわ | opposite side, other side, other party | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 向い風 | むかいかぜ | headwind, head wind | Noun |
| 向日葵 | ひまわり | sunflower (Helianthus annuus) | Noun |
| 向こう見ず | むこうみず | reckless, rash, headlong, foolhardy, daredevil, daring | Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |