Readings: コウ (Onyomi), む.く, む.い, む.ける, む.け, む.かう, む.かい, む.こう (Kunyomi)
Meaning: beyond, yonder, facing, toward
The kanji 向 originally depicted a window opening, or a person looking out from an opening, symbolizing facing or looking towards a direction. It combines a depiction of an enclosure or opening (冂) with a symbol resembling a mouth (口) or a person (人) inside, suggesting ‘facing towards an opening’ or ‘directing oneself’.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 向 has 6 strokes. It begins with the top horizontal stroke (1), followed by the left vertical stroke (2) and then the right vertical stroke (3) to form the outer enclosure (冂). Inside, the 口 radical is drawn with strokes (4) for the top horizontal and left vertical, (5) for the bottom horizontal, and (6) for the final closing vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 冂 (どうがまえ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- コウ (KOU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- む.く (mu.ku)
- む.い (mu.i)
- む.ける (mu.keru)
- む.け (mu.ke)
- む.かう (mu.kau)
- む.かい (mu.kai)
- む.こう (mu.kou)
Common Words Using 向
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 方向 | ほうこう | direction |
| 傾向 | けいこう | tendency |
| 向上 | こうじょう | improvement |
| 意向 | いこう | intention |
| 指向 | しこう | orientation, aiming at |
| 対向車 | たいこうしゃ | oncoming car |
| 動向 | どうこう | trend, movement |
| 志向 | しこう | intention, aim |
| 対向 | たいこう | opposing, facing |
| 向性 | こうせい | tropism |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 向く | むく | to face, to turn toward |
| 向ける | むける | to turn (something) toward |
| 向かう | むかう | to face, to head toward |
| 向かい | むかい | opposite, facing |
| 向こう | むこう | over there, beyond, opposite side |
| 前向き | まえむき | positive, forward-looking |
| 後ろ向き | うしろむき | backward-looking, negative |
| 風向き | かざむき | wind direction |
| 日向 | ひなた | sunny place |
| 南向き | みなみむき | facing south |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この道は駅の方向です。
Kana: このみちはえきのほうこうです。
Romaji: Kono michi wa eki no hōkō desu.
English: This road is in the direction of the station.
Japanese: 彼はいつも前向きな考え方をする。
Kana: かれはいつもまえむきなかんがえかたをする。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo maemuki na kangaekata o suru.
English: He always has a positive way of thinking.
Japanese: 壁に向かって座る。
Kana: かべにむかってすわる。
Romaji: Kabe ni mukatte suwaru.
English: To sit facing the wall.
Japanese: 船は港へ向かっている。
Kana: ふねはみなとへむかっている。
Romaji: Fune wa minato e mukatte iru.
English: The ship is heading towards the port.
Japanese: 道の向こうにコンビニがある。
Kana: みちのむこうにコンビニがある。
Romaji: Michi no mukō ni konbini ga aru.
English: There’s a convenience store across the street.
Japanese: 窓を南に、机を窓に向ける。
Kana: まどをみなみに、つくえをまどにむける。
Romaji: Mado o minami ni, tsukue o mado ni mukeru.
English: Face the window south, and turn the desk towards the window.
Japanese: 向かいの家から音が聞こえる。
Kana: むかいのいえからおとがきこえる。
Romaji: Mukai no ie kara oto ga kikoeru.
English: I can hear sounds from the house opposite.
Japanese: 生徒たちは先生のほうを向いた。
Kana: せいとたちはせんせいのほうをむいた。
Romaji: Seito-tachi wa sensei no hō o muita.
English: The students turned towards the teacher.
Japanese: 会社の売上が向上した。
Kana: かいしゃのうりあげがこうじょうした。
Romaji: Kaisha no uriage ga kōjō shita.
English: The company’s sales improved.
Japanese: 私の意向は変更ありません。
Kana: わたしのいこうはへんこうありません。
Romaji: Watashi no ikō wa henkō arimasen.
English: My intention has not changed.
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