Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

向き直る (むきなおる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

向むき直なおる

む

き

な

お

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

turn around; face about; turn to face

Describes physically turning one's body or face to face a different direction, often suddenly or deliberately.

彼かれは急きゅうに向むき直なおって、私わたしの顔かおを見みた。
He suddenly turned around and looked at my face.
声こえをかけられて、後

うし

ろ

に

向む

き

直なお

っ

た

。

When someone called out, I turned around to face behind me.

Written forms

向むき直なおるUsage74%
Standard kanji spelling.
向むきなおるUsage18%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kana-mixed form; not a standard spelling.
むきなおるUsage6%
むき直なおるUsage2%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kana-mixed form; not a standard spelling.
向むき直なおるUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only abbreviated kanji form; not a standard spelling.

Kanji

向yonder, facing, beyond
直straightaway, honesty, frankness

Similar words

振ふり向むく
振り向く is more common for turning one's head or upper body to look back, while 向き直る emphasizes a full turn or facing a new direction, often with a sense of resolve or after a pause.
向むく
向く is the base verb meaning 'to face' or 'to turn toward'; 向き直る adds the nuance of turning again or turning to face squarely.

Etymology

Compound of 向き (continuative form of 向く 'to face') + 直る ('to be corrected' or 'to be redone'), literally 'to face again' or 'to turn to face properly'.