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向

Toward, Facing
Stroke count: 6

Readings

On readingコウ
Kun readingむ.く、む.ける、む.かう
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 3Level 6

Verbs with «向»

向かう向ける向く向上する向き合う出向く立ち向かう振り向く

Meanings

  1. toward, Facing
  2. approach
  3. beyond
  4. confront
  5. defy
  6. facing
  7. tend toward
  8. yonderRtK
  1. to turn toward
  2. to look (up, down, etc.)
  3. to face (e.g. east) (of a building, window, etc.)
  4. to look out on
  5. to front (on)

Popular Usage

向こう向かう傾向意向

Radicals and components

Radical口mouth囗variant
Components
How it's built
向
  • →
  • →
    • →
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

alien · drop (丶) · helmet · hood (冂) · mouth (口)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 195

Compound words

向こうむこう
opposite side; other side; over there; ahead; beyond
向かうむかう
to face; to go towards; to head towards
傾向けいこう
tendency; trend; inclination
向くむく
to turn toward; to look (up, down, etc.); to face (e.g. east) (of a building, window, etc.); to look out on; to front (on)
向けるむける
to turn (towards); to face; to point; to aim; to direct to
日向ぼっこひなたぼっこ
basking in the sun; sunbathing
向上するこうじょうする
to elevate
向き合うむきあう
to be opposite; to face each other
意向いこう
intention; inclination; mind; idea; wish
一向いっこう
completely; absolutely; totally; (not) at all; (not) a bit
向きむき
direction; orientation; aspect; exposure; suited to
向けむけ
intended for ...; oriented towards ...; aimed at ...
向上こうじょう
elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress
志向しこう
intention; aim; preference (for); orientation (towards a goal)
趣向しゅこう
plan; idea; design; plot; taste
出向しゅっこう
temporary transfer (of an employee); secondment; relocation; loan; proceeding to
性向せいこう
inclination; tendency; nature; character
対向たいこう
counter-; corresponding; face; opposite
転向てんこう
conversion; shift; about-face; switch
動向どうこう
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
内向ないこう
introversion
日向ひなた
sunny place; in the sun
偏向へんこう
propensity; tendency; inclination; deflection
方向ほうこう
direction; orientation; bearing; way; course (e.g. of action)

Kun Reading Examples

向こうまで泳いで渡ることができますか。むこう
Can you swim across?tatoeba
事態は収拾に向かいつつある。むかう
The situation is gradually moving towards a resolution.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は方向音痴だ。
He has no sense of direction.tatoeba
彼は暮し向きが良い。
He is well off.tatoeba
彼は塀の向こう側にボールを投げた。
He threw a ball over the fence.tatoeba
彼は物事を真剣に考え過ぎる傾向にある。
He tends to consider things too much earnestly.tatoeba
三婦は茶屋へ向かう。
Sabu goes to the teahouse.wiki
言い棄てて奥へ向かう。
Hurling these words at him, Harunaga walks away.wiki

Stroke Order

6 strokes

Direction; facing. A window 口 in a house wall — facing one way.Also known as “Yonder”

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 向

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step