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あさっての方を向く (あさってのほうをむく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

あさっての方ほうを向むく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

face the wrong way; go in the wrong direction

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to face the direction of the day after tomorrow', i.e., to look or go in a completely wrong direction. Often used figuratively for misguided efforts or attention.

See also: 明後日

彼かれの説せつ明めいはあさっての方ほうを向むいていて、何なにを言いいたいのかわからなかった

。

His explanation was completely off the mark, and I couldn't understand what he wanted to say.

その対たい策さくは問もん題だいの本ほん質しつからあさっての方ほうを向むいている。

That measure is looking in the wrong direction, away from the heart of the problem.

Written forms

あさっての方ほうを向むく
Most common spelling; uses the kanji 方 for 'direction' and 向く for 'face'.
明後日あさっての方ほうを向むく
Uses the kanji 明後日 for あさって; less common but still seen.
あさってのほうを向むく
All-kana spelling; natural in casual writing.

Kanji

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

Similar words

見けん当とう違ちがい
見当違い means 'off the mark' or 'misguided' as a noun or adjective, while あさっての方を向く is a verbal phrase emphasizing the action of facing or heading in the wrong direction.
的まと外はずれ
的外れ is a na-adjective meaning 'off-target' or 'irrelevant', often used for remarks or answers. あさっての方を向く is more vivid and implies a physical or metaphorical misdirection.

Etymology

The phrase literally means 'to face the direction of the day after tomorrow'. The day after tomorrow (あさって) is used metaphorically to indicate a direction that is completely wrong or irrelevant, as if one is looking toward a distant, unrelated point in time.