Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 22/24

に向(む)かって

Towards, To face, To head to

Structure

Noun + に向(む)かって
Noun + に向(む)けて
Noun + に向(む)けて + の + Noun

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About に向かって・に向けて

Coming from a link between に and the う-Verb 向(む)かう 'to face', or 'to go towards' in its て-form, に向(む)かって indicates that some specific action is being done 'towards (A)' or 'facing (A)'. (A) usually marks a stationary object or destination in the form of a noun. However, it can also mark less obvious destinations, such as the future '未来(みらい)'.
  • マイクに向(む)かって何(なに)か一言(ひとこと)お願(ねが)いします。
    Please face the mic and say something.
  • 空(そら)に向(む)かって大声(おおごえ)を出(だ)した。
    I shouted loudly towards the sky.
  • 明(あか)るい未来(みらい)に向(む)かって一緒(いっしょ)に人生(じんせい)を歩(あゆ)もうじゃ無(な)いか！
    Why don't we walk toward a bright future together!
Additionally, when 向(む)ける (the transitive form of the verb) is used, it will imply that the speaker is intentionally 'aiming' or 'facing' something towards (A). This is especially true when the objective of the speaker is to make something 'suitable' for (A).
  • 新入社員(しんにゅうしゃいん)に向(む)けて何(なに)かアドバイスを一言(ひとこと)お願(ねが)いします。
    Please share a few words of advice suitable for the new employees.
  • 彼(かれ)らは全国(ぜんこく)大会(たいかい)に向(む)けて毎日(まいにち)朝(あさ)から夜(よる)までトレーニングをしている。
    They are training towards the national championship from morning to night everyday.

Examples

  • カメラに向(む)かって、笑顔(えがお)をお願(ねが)いします。

    Please face the camera and smile.

  • 将来(しょうらい)に向(む)かって、治療(ちりょう)の発展(はってん)は進(すす)む一方(いっぽう)だ。

    Heading toward the future, medical development is continuously progressing.

  • 日本(にほん)をはじめ、外国(がいこく)に向(む)けてブランドを広(ひろ)げたい。

    Starting with Japan, I want to expand my brand towards foreign countries.

  • 受験生(じゅけんせい)に向(む)けてアドバイスをお願(ねが)いします。

    Please give an advice aimed at a student preparing for exams.

  • 小学生(しょうがくせい)に向(む)かってなんでそんなに難(むずか)しい言(い)い方(かた)をするのだろう...

    I wonder why he uses such a difficult way of speaking toward elementary school students.

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に向かって・に向けて – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 3 years ago

    According to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar p.407, it has to be に向けて when indicating the target, direction, goal, or purpose of an action, which this sentence seems to fit.

  • jakedesu2010

    jakedesu2010

    About 1 year ago

    小学生＿＿＿＿＿なんでそんあに難しい言い方をするのだろう。。。

    The answer is に向かって
    I put に対して

    Can someone explain why that is wrong? I had an almost identical sentence yesterday for に対して which was something like this…
    大人に対して失礼しないで

    Seems to be exactly the same usage to me…

  • Yryrdz

    Yryrdz

    About 1 year ago

    創作活動＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿情報を収集をしてください is one of the example sentences for this. Can I get an explanation for why 向け doesn’t work here but this does? This something I get wrong for multiple sentences so I figure it’s something on my end.

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