The Meaning of mukau [向かう] In Japanese

向かう
むかう
Romaji: mukau N5

What does 向かう mean?

Translation and Meaning

to face, to head toward, to go toward, to be oriented toward

Definition

向かう means to move toward a place or goal, to face in a direction, or to direct one’s efforts or attention toward something. It describes motion or orientation toward a target and is used with particles such as に or へ to indicate destination or direction.

Type

verb (godan, u-verb) (動詞, 五段-ウ動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • to head toward a location or goal
  • to face toward a person or thing
  • to direct one’s actions, attention, or studies toward something

Etymology

むかう is the native reading, traditionally written with the kanji 向 to reflect the core sense of ‘toward’. The pronunciation shows the preserved -au ending from Old Japanese, illustrating a stable u-verb conjugation over time.

Composition

  • 向: toward, facing
  • かう: verb ending indicating the basic dictionary form; in this word, かう is the okurigana that completes the verb

Usage

Used to indicate movement toward a destination or orientation toward a target; commonly paired with に or へ; appropriate for casual conversation and narrative prose; can describe literal travel as well as figurative aims or directions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a person turning their head to face a future target; the kanji 向 visually echoes this act of turning toward something, helping remember ‘toward’ meaning.

Variations

  • 目指す (mezasu) — to aim for
  • 向ける (mukeru) — to direct toward (transitive)
  • 向く (muku) — to face toward (intransitive)

Example Phrases

  • 駅へ向かう途中で友達に会った。
    Eki e mukau tochū de tomodachi ni atta.
    I ran into a friend on the way to the station.
    Lista:
    • 駅へ (eki e) – to the station
    • 向かう (mukau) – to head toward
    • 途中で (tochū de) – on the way
    • 友達に (tomodachi ni) – to/for a friend
    • 会った (atta) – met
    “「向かう」” means ‘to head toward’; here it is used with へ to indicate direction toward a destination, as in 駅へ向かう.
  • 旅券を カードケースに しまい、 空港へ 向かう 準備 を する。
    ryoken o kaado keesu ni shimai, kuukou e mukau junbi o suru.
    I put the passport into my card case and get ready to head to the airport.
    Lista:
    • 旅券を (ryoken o) – passport (object marker)
    • カードケースに (kaado keesu ni) – into a card case
    • しまい、 (shimai,) – put away,
    • 空港へ (kuukou e) – to the airport
    • 向かう (mukau) – head toward
    • 準備 (junbi) – preparation
    • を (o) – object marker
    • する。 (suru) – to do.
    「旅券」 é o termo formal para passaporte; aqui funciona como objeto direto de しまう (colocar/guardar) com を, indicando que o passaporte é colocado dentro de um estojo.
  • 会場へ向かう途中、道案内をスマホで確認した。
    Kaijō e mukau tochū, dōannai o sumaho de kakunin shita.
    On the way to the venue, I checked the directions on my smartphone.
    Lista:
    • 会場へ (kaijō e) – to the venue
    • 向かう (mukau) – to head toward
    • 途中、 (tochū) – on the way
    • 道案内を (dōannai o) – directions
    • スマホで (sumaho de) – on a smartphone
    • 確認した (kakunin shita) – checked
    The word 「会場」 marks the destination in this sentence, used with へ向かう to express going toward it; 途中 indicates ‘on the way’.
向かう