Meaning

Primary

To Turn Something Towards

Alternative

To Point Something At

Word Type

transitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

You know that 向く means "to face" or "to turn towards", and this verb is related. This is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. It's when someone turns or points something. That something doesn't just turn on its own. So this verb means to turn something towards or to point something at.

In order to remember that this word means "to turn something towards," focus on the . You have a bottle of ketchup in your hands and you're turning it toward your worst enemy to spray them. Picture yourself pointing the ketchup toward them.

Reading

むける
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for this one is the same as 向く which you learned in a previous level. As long as you know that one you should be able to learn this one's reading as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 外に向ける

    to turn something outward

    社会に向ける

    to turn something towards society

    自分に向ける

    to turn something towards oneself

Context Sentences

もう少し後ろに向けることは出来ますか?

Can you turn it towards the back a little more?

スマホじゃなくて子どもに、目を向けてあげて下さい。

Please look at your child, not your smartphone.

来年の夏のJLPTに向けて活用形を学んでいます。

I am learning the conjugation forms for the JLPT next summer.

Kanji Composition