向き・
向け says who something was made for. 向き says who it suits, whether or not it was made for them. After a direction, 向き is also "facing".
How to form it
Noun + 向け ／ Noun + 向き
Both behave like nouns: 向けだ, 向けの本, 向けに作る; 向きだ, 向きの本, 向きではない.
向け: made for
Someone had these people in mind when they made it, wrote it or put it on sale. It is the word on products, courses, magazines and apps: 初心者向け (for beginners), 外国人向け, 企業向け, 海外向け.
This is a small fridge for people who live alone.
The museum rewrote its exhibit labels in a shorter form for children.
向き: suited to
Your own judgment that it fits, from what it is like: light, quiet, simple, cheap. 向きではない says something is wrong for someone without calling it bad.
This café is quiet and has plenty of power outlets, so it is good for long study sessions.
It has a lot of intense scenes, so this film is not suitable for young children.
When the two come apart
A picture book is both: made for children, and right for them, so either word will do. You hear the difference when only one is true.
Its height can be adjusted, so this desk suits children, but it wasn't made for them.
After a direction, 向き is facing
南向き (facing south), 東向き, 上向き (facing up), 横向き (sideways). Apartment listings give it.
A south-facing room is warm even in winter.
に向いている: cut out for
To say a person suits a job, a role or a way of life, people mostly use the verb: に向いている.
I think she is cut out to be a teacher.
This job may not be right for me.
Close neighbours
に向けてN2
Effort or words aimed at a goal or an audience: "toward", "ahead of".
I am studying every day for next month's exam.
にとってN3
The "for" of "hard for children": how something is from where they stand.
This book is too difficult for children.
Check yourself
1What does this say about the game?
この
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one is a room that faces south?
Choose an answer to see why.
3"I don't think I'm cut out for sales."
私は
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
向け or 用?
用 says who or what uses a thing: 子ども用のいす (a child's chair), 家庭用 (for home use). 向け says who it is aimed at.
向き不向き
不向き is "unsuited".
Everyone has things they are suited to and things they are not.
More sentences
This is a science magazine for elementary school students.
The city made a multilingual video for foreign residents explaining how to sort trash.
This weekend's program is for parents and children.
This dish takes fifteen minutes to make, so it is good for dinner on a busy weekday.
This dictionary has many example sentences with basic words, so it suits people learning Japanese for the first time.