Direction Intransitives + を: 向く
There are a handful of verbs in Japanese that handle direction. Of these, the first verbs that come to mind are words like 行く(to go), 来る (to come), 歩く (to walk), and 走る (to run). The particles that are naturally associated with these verbs are に and へ, but most intrinsically に. The use of these particles indicate that these verbs are 自動詞 (intransitive verbs) as opposed to 他動詞 (transitive verbs).
However, it is not the case that all direction verbs are intransitive. For example, consider the following verbs:
・指す (to point)
1. コンパスの指針が北西を指した。
The compass needle pointed northwest.
・指差す (to point at)
2. 彼女は玄関先に置かれた花瓶を指差した。
She pointed at the vase placed at the front door.
・見る (to see/look)
3. ちゃんと前を見て注意しながら歩いてください。
Please walk while paying attention by properly looking in front of you.
・捜す (to search)
4. 公園の端っこのほうを捜すと見つかるかもしれない。
You might find it if you search the edge of the park.
・向ける (to turn towards)
5. 事実と道理に背を向ける。
To turn one’s back on facts and logic.
・目指す (to aim/head for)
6. 与党も野党も大筋同じ方向を目指している。
The ruling party and the opposition party are both aiming roughly in the same direction.
These six verbs demonstrate that although verbs of direction may mostly be intransitive, there are a few handfuls that are in fact transitive. What this demonstrates is that “direction” can at times be conceptualized as the “object” of a verb rather than just a destination point.
In this lesson, we will learn about how the particle を is used with one intransitive verb of direction in particular: 向く. Although it has the transitive form 向ける, 向く is frequently seen paired with を. The verb itself has a handful of meanings, each presenting clarity as to how particles work with it.
Other semantically similar verbs behave similarly to 向く, and so upon fully studying 向く and its important derivatives, we’ll spend some time looking at this grammar phenomenon with other examples.
The Verb 向く & Its Derivatives
を向く
The verb 向く is one of only three verbs of direction that seemingly behave as transitive verbs with the case particle を despite being intrinsically intransitive. The remaining two verbs are 振り向く (to turn around) and 振り返る (to look/think back (on), but both of these verbs overlap semantically with 向く. The thought process as to why を is allowed with these verbs comes from the fact that the action carried out—shift in direction—isn’t so much an objective change of state, but rather a subjective action done by the agent; it is this direction of sense, if you will, that allows 向くto behave like a transitive verb as most transitive verbs in Japanese imply an active agent causing the action in question to occur. By proxy, this affects 振り向くand 振り返る as we will also look at in further detail.
を向く can be used even with non-volitional agents. In other words, even if the doer of the action isn’t necessarily doing the act of turning out of its own volition, the particle を is still overwhelmingly used. When the agent is overtly purposely doing the act of turning, then を becomes obligatory.
For を向く to be grammatical, the “object” must be one that can be conceptualized as a direction word. If it can’t, it will need to take のほう (the direction of).
7. 目が上を向いている時は、考えをまとめている時です。
When one’s eyes are facing up, it’s when one is gathering one’s thoughts.
8. 重さで扇風機が下を向いてしまいます。
The fan faces downward due to its weight.
9. 下を向くな。
Don’t look down.
Grammar Note: The を seen in Exs. 7-9 can be interpreted as the を seen with intransitive verbs of movement, making its usage obligatory in situations such as theses.
10. ナマケモノは真後ろを向いたまま、木登りができる。
Sloths can climb trees whilst still facing right behind them.
11. 本殿が海を向いて建っている。
The main shrine is built towards the sea.
12. 医者のほうを向いてではなく、患者さんのほうを向いて仕事をしたい。
I want to work turned towards the patients and not towards the physician.
13. 僕はふいと笑美子さんのほうを向いて言葉をかけた。
I suddenly turned toward Emiko and spoke to her.
14. 黒板を向いて聞くことが中心の授業では、子供達の集中も長続きしません。
In classes centered around listening whilst facing the board, the children’s concentration won’t last long either.
The Transitive Verb 向ける
When moving something into a certain direction, however, the direction becomes an indirect object, thus requiring the transitive form 向ける to be used.
15. 謙太郎が、左の扇風機を下に、右の扇風機を右に向けた。
Kentaro pointed the fan on the left downward and the fan on the right to the right.
16. 人ばかり写るので、カメラレンズを上に向けた。
Because only people would be in the picture, I pointed the camera lens upward.
It is also the case that を向ける can follow direction words, and when it does, it implies explicit active will on the part of the agent in turning that said direction.
17. 皆が左を向いたとき、あなただけ右を向けるか。
Only you turn to the right when everyone turns to the left?
Sentence Note: In Ex. 17 above, the first clause uses を向く with no implied nuance of the subject “everyone” truly purposely orienting to the left, but the second clause uses を向ける, which does imply that the subject “you” are purposely orienting yourself to the right.
に向く
It goes without saying that the original particle that has always been paired with 向く has been に. This make senses as even in English, the word “toward(s)” usually follows “to turn.” The destination/direction of the orientation of the subject is emphasized with the use of に, and consequently, there isn’t an implied active agent. Lastly, the state that に向く describes must be one that will or is ongoing.
18. 新月の頃は、地球の太陽に照らされた面が、ほぼ月のほうに向いている。
In a new moon, the side of the Earth that is illuminated by the Sun is roughly pointed towards the Moon.
Sentence Note: In Ex. 18, the side of the Earth illuminated by the sun is not purposely oriented toward the moon. This statement is a simply fact of observation being made about a natural phenomenon.
19. 私の関心はいつも未来に向いている。
My interests are always directed to the future.
20. 主人公の足の向くところには炎が燃え広がっていた。
Flames spread where the protagonist’s feed headed.
Grammar Note: The phrase 足が向く, alternatively seen as 足の向く when modifying a noun phrase as is the case in Ex. 20, uses the particle が before 向く only because no direction-noun is stated. If there were, it would be marked withに or へ.
21. 仕事柄、本屋に行くと、美術の本のコーナーに足が向く。
Because of my work, when I go to a book store, my feet head for the fine arts corner.
22. 家の向きが少し斜めに向いている。
The aspect of the house is slightly tilted.
There is a particular usage of に向く that is unique to it and not shared with を向く—or へ向く which is to be showcased next—is being synonymous with ～に適している, “to be suited/apt/fit for…”
23. アナウンサーに向いている人の特徴は何でしょうか。
What are the characteristics of someone who’s fit for announcing.
24. うちの息子は物書きに向いていない。
My son is not cut out for writing.
25. 誰しも、今の仕事で思うような結果が出ないと、「自分はこの仕事に向いていないのでは」という疑問が頭をよぎったりする。
Whenever one doesn’t get the results that one thought at one’s current job, the question as to whether “one is suited for the job” will cross anyone’s mind.
26. 彼の体型は水泳に向いている。
His build is suited for swimming.
へ向く
へ向く is largely synonymous with the first sense of に向く, but it is especially when one wishes to express a change in orientation that is heading away from an original position.
27. 苗木が太陽の方へ向いてぐんぐんと成長している。
The saplings are growing steadily toward the sun.
28. 君はどっちの方角へ足が向くかね。
I wonder which direction you’ll head for.
29. 中国の視線は今、米国へ向いている。
China’s gaze is currently pointed toward America.
30. いつも外へ向いている意識を内側に向け、仕事のストレスを和らげましょう。
Point your awareness which is always pointed outward inward and alleviate your work stress.
Grammar Note: Ex. 30 demonstrates how へ向く, and by proxy に向く are suitable for when 向く is used with abstract subjects. を向く would, in fact, be incorrect.
Differences Matter
Given that を向く, に向く, へ向く, and ～を（～に）向ける aren’t exactly the same, it’s only natural that they can all occur at the same time. Ex. 19 is an example of all four of these forms used in tandem.
31. 上半身を右に向けて、この右に向いた時間が長いほど、インパクトで体が正面を向いている時間は一瞬で、素早く左へ向いていくというのがポイントです。
The point is to point your upper body to the right, and the longer it’s pointed to the right, the time the body points to the front at impact becomes instantaneous, at which point the body swiftly faces leftward.
The Intransitive Verb 向かう
Another verb that derives from 向く is 向かう. It’s a combination of 向くand the archaic auxiliary verb ふ, which is used to express a continuous state. 向かう means “to face” or “to go towards.” Even still, there is a subtle nuance that once one “faces” or “heads toward” X that the state will last for a certain length of time, or that the change in orientation will have a measurable duration. This verb is solely intransitive and either takes the particles に or へ, but never を.
32. 大型の台風15号が日本へ向かっている。
Large-scale Typhoon #15 is heading toward Japan.
33. 冬に向かっているのに、なんていいお天気！
Although we’re heading to winter, what great weather it is (today)!
34. 入院のブッシュ元大統領、快方に向かう
Hospitalized Former President Bush Getting Better
The Suffixes ～向き & ～向け
The suffixes ～向き and ～向け are very similar, but there are a few subtle differences that ultimately make the latter far more commonly used. Don’t let commonality, though, confuse you into never using the former as it is necessary in its own circumstances, which are detailed first below.
The Suffix ～向き
The first usage of ～向き is to mean “facing” when attached to literal direction words such as 東 (east) and 南 (south).
35. 食器棚にお皿やコップを入れる時、下向きに置いた方がいいんでしょうか。
Is it best to place themes bottom up when putting up plates and cups in the cupboard?
36. せっかく新しい家に住むのなら、明るい南向きがいい。
If you’re going to go through the trouble of living in a new home, one facing the bright southerly direction would be best.
37. 私のように今ネガティブな思考をしている方も、前向きになりたいと思ったことがあるはずです。
People who, like me, think negatively now should have had a moment where they wanted to become positive.
Phrase Note: 前向き literally means “facing forward” and is usually used in the sense of being “positive/proactive.”
Another usage of ～向き is being equivalent to ～に適した (suited/apt/fit for…). This usage is also seen in the phrase 向き不向き, which means “being cut out for certain things and not for others.” It is implied that the suitability is naturally so.
38. 安心して暮らせる学生向きの物件を数多く扱っています。
We handle a vast number of properties suited for students to be able to live with peace of mind.
39. この小説は偶然にも、日本語を勉強している外国人向きでもある。
This novel is coincidentally also suited for foreigners who are studying Japanese.
40. これは韓国人向きの辛口ビールです。
This is a spicy beer suited for Koreans.
41. 仕事に向き不向きってあるんですか。
Is there such thing as some things being cut or not cut out for you in jobs?
The Suffix ～向け
Similarly, ～向け is used to indicate that something has been tailored towards something/someone. Essentially, it indicates a target. For instance, 日本向けの商品 means “merchandise tailored/targeted for Japan.”
42. 初心者向けのIMABIの教科書を買いたい。
I wish I could buy an IMABI textbook made for beginners.
43. 日本に住んでいた時は、大人向けの教養番組をいつも見ていた。
When I lived in Japan, I always watched educational programs made for adults.
44. 菅元総理大臣はいくつかの全国向けテレビ演説をしました。
Prime Minister Kan made several nation-wide televised speeches.
Other Mentions: 振り向く, 振り返る, & 注目する
振り向く
In the sense of “to draw interest in…”, 振り向く is used with the particle に. Otherwise, in the sense of meaning “to look back at,” it is always used with the particle を.
45. 興味のあることには振り向いて目を合わせますが、興味のないことには振り向きもしないことは、日常でもよくあることです。
Giving attention and making eye contact with things that are not interesting but not giving a bit of attention to things that aren’t interesting is something that often happens in the ordinary.
46. あなたの好きな人がどんな人に振り向くのかリサーチしましょう。
Research the kind of person the person you like gives attention to!
47. あの日の朝、息子を学校に送り出したとき、こちらを振り向いた顔がまさか最後になるとは思いもしませんでした。
That morning when I sent off my son to school, I had no idea that the face he gave me when looking back would be his last.
振り返る に振り返る is used in the sense of “to look back at” in a literal sense due to something (noises, etc.) whereas を振り返る is used in a figurative sense as in “to think back on.”
48. 背後の奇妙な物音に振り返った。
I turned around at the strange sounds in the back.
49. 驚きながら爆発音に振り返った。
I turned around surprised at the noise of the explosion.
50. 50年以上の昔を振り返る。
To think back on olden times over fifty years ago.
注目する
In Standard Japanese grammar, 注目する (to notice) is used with the particle に. It is synonymous with 目を向ける, which makes it clear why it would take に. However, because it is semantically very similar to other verbs like 見る (to see/look), 注視する (to gaze steadily), and 監視する (to monitor) which all take を, some speakers do happen to say を注目する. It is important to reiterate, though, that に注目する is still the true, correct form.
51. 画面左下｛に・△ を｝注目する。
Notice the bottom left of the screen.
52. 今後どうなるか｛に・△ を｝注目してください。
Please pay attention to what becomes of it from now on.
53. 毎日ツイート｛に・△ を｝注目してください。
Please pay attention to tweets every day.
54. 医療業界の成り行きを｛注視・△ 注目｝する。
To observe the development of the medical care industry.
55. 画面の右下｛に・△を｝注目してないよね。
You aren’t paying attention to the bottom right of the screen, huh.