JLPT N3 · 6 strokes
Kanji 向: "yonder, facing, beyond"
The kanji 向 means "yonder, facing, beyond, confront, defy, tend toward". It is written with 6 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read コウ in on'yomi and む.く, む.い, む.き, む.ける, む.け, む.かう in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
コウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
む.くむ.いむ.きむ.けるむ.けむ.かう
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | yonder, facing, beyond, confront, defy, tend toward |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 3 |
| Frequency rank | 182 of 2,501 |
Common words with 向
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 向かうto face · to go towards; to head towards
- 向けるto turn (towards); to face; to point; to aim · to head to; to go towards
- 向こうopposite side; other side · over there; ahead; beyond; (in the) distance
- 向くto turn toward; to look (up, down, etc.) · to face (e.g. east) (of a building, window, etc.); to look out on; to front (on)
- 方向direction; orientation; bearing; way · course (e.g. of action)
- に向けてtowards (a destination); for the purpose of; with the goal of; targeting (a group, a demographic)
- 振り向くto turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
- 向き合うto be opposite; to face each other · to confront (an issue); to face
- 向けintended for ...; oriented towards ...; aimed at ...
- 傾向tendency; trend; inclination
- 目を向けるto shift one's attention to; to shift one's focus on
- 背を向けるto pretend not to see; to turn one's back on
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