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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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)'.

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).

Related

Examples

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    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.

    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 some advice aimed at a student preparing for exams.

    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.

    通貨(つうか)統一(とういつ)に向(む)けての動(うご)きが加速(かそく)している。

    The movement toward the unification of currency is accelerating.

    深夜(しんや)のアルバイトに向(む)けて昼寝(ひるね)をしておこう。

    Aiming toward my late night part time job, I am going to take a nap in advance.

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      に向かって・に向けて – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        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

        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

        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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