Kanji 向

音読おんよみ: コウ

訓読くんよみ:・むける・むかう・むこう

画数かくすう: 6

部首ぶしゅ: くち(口)

Meaning

Facing / Direction / Approach

Conjugation
Tap for 向く (face) Tap for 向かう (head toward)
  • 方向ほうこう — direction
  • 向上こうじょう — improvement
  • 向日性こうじつせい — heliotropism
  • 向学こうがく — pursuit of learning
  • かう — to face / head toward
  • こう — the other side / over there
Compound Verbs - tap to expand
  • かう — to face up to; to confront
  • う — to face each other; to confront sincerely
  • かいう — to face one another

向 originally depicted a window high up on a wall, symbolizing openness or facing outward. It now conveys the idea of turning, facing, or heading toward something — whether physical (like “向こう”) or metaphorical (like “向上” for improvement).

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