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明後日の方向を向く (あさってのほうこうをむく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

明後日あさっての方ほう向こうを向むく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

face the wrong way; go in the wrong direction

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to be completely off-target, looking or moving in a direction unrelated to the intended one. Often used figuratively for misguided efforts or attention.

See also: 明後日

彼かれの話はなしはいつもあさっての方ほう向こうを向むいていて、要よう点てんがわからない。
His stories always go off in the wrong direction, and I can't grasp the point.

議ぎ論ろんがあさっての方ほう向こうを向むいてしまい、何なにも決きまらなかった。

The discussion went completely off track, and nothing was decided.

Written forms

明後日あさっての方ほう向こうを向むく
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
あさっての方ほう向こうを向むく
Kana spelling for 明後日 is common and avoids potential reading confusion.

Kanji

方direction, person, alternative
向yonder, facing, beyond
明bright, light
後behind, back, later
日day, sun, Japan

Similar words

的まと外はずれ
的外れ means 'off the mark' or 'irrelevant', focusing on missing the target. 明後日の方向を向く is more vivid, implying facing a completely unrelated direction, often with a nuance of absurdity.
見けん当とう違ちがい
見当違い means 'wrong guess' or 'misjudgment'. 明後日の方向を向く describes the action or state of being misdirected, not just a mistaken assumption.

Etymology

Literally 'to face the direction of the day after tomorrow'. The phrase uses 明後日 (asatte, 'day after tomorrow') to indicate a direction that is not here or now, i.e., completely off. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from the idea of looking toward a distant, irrelevant point.