に向かって・
に向かって is facing something, heading toward it, or speaking straight at someone. に向けて is aiming at it: getting ready for a date or a goal, or sending something out to an audience.
heading toward
Before dawn, the climbing party began walking toward the summit.
speaking at
The reporters all fired questions at the minister at once.
getting ready for
We are preparing materials about the new product for next month's exhibition.
Facing, heading toward
Noun + に向かって
From 向かう, to face or head for: you yourself turn that way.
Aimed at
Noun + に向けて ／ Noun + に向けた + noun
From 向ける, to point something at: your effort or your message goes that way. News writing shortens it to に向け.
Which one?
| に | に | |
|---|---|---|
| Before it | A thing, a place or a person you can face: 壁, 駅, 先生 | An event or a date ahead, or an audience: 大会, 来年, 若者 |
| After it | 座る, 歩く, 進む, 言う, 叫ぶ | 準備する, 練習する, 発信する, 作る |
| In English | toward, facing, at, to | for, ahead of, aimed at |
A goal (目標, 夢) takes either.
に向かって: facing, heading, speaking at
She practiced smiling in front of the mirror.
Facing it. Nobody moves.
A large typhoon is moving north toward Kyushu.
Heading that way. It may never arrive.
How dare you speak to your own parent like that?
To someone's face. A set way to scold.
I'm on my way to you now.
向かう is an everyday verb in its own right.
に向けて: for a date, a goal, an audience
I'm training every day for next month's tournament.
We sent out information in English for users overseas.
The audience need not be in front of you.
I decided to join a language course to prepare for studying abroad.
Before a noun: に向けた.
Where they meet, and where they don't
With a goal, both are said, and little changes. For an event or a date you are getting ready for, に向けて is the usual one.
The whole team is working hard toward its goal of winning the championship.
The team is moving toward the goal.
The whole team is working hard for its goal of winning the championship.
The team's effort is aimed at the goal.
When you only face something, nothing is being aimed, so it is に向かって.
Not said: 彼は
(He was sitting facing the wall.)
壁に向かって座っていた.
Close neighbours
にN5
Where you end up, with 行く or 着く. に向かって is only the heading, so it is the one that goes with 歩く and 走る.
After getting off the train, I went to the hotel first.
に対してN3
Who or what an attitude, a reply or an action is aimed at. Nobody has to be face to face.
This teacher is strict with international students too.
向けN3
A label on the thing itself: who it was made for. に向けて goes with the making or the sending.
We made an instructional video for beginners.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
弟は
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
市は
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With 出発する, to set off, a destination takes に向けて too. And へ can stand in for に in both: ゴールへ向かって, 子どもたちへ向けて.
The party set off for Kyoto.
More sentences
The ship was moving slowly toward the harbor.
The teacher began speaking quietly to the students.
The runners set off toward the finish line.
Inspections of the drainage equipment are under way ahead of the season of heavy rains.
Ahead of the release, the development team began its final checks.
They produced a program for children that conveys the excitement of science.