向こう

Japanese
Kanji in this term
向
む
Grade: 3
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
向う

Etymology

Two possible sources:

  • From the nominalization of the 終止形 (shūshikei, “terminal form”) or 連体形 (rentaikei, “attributive form”) of the verb 向かう (mukau, “to face”). The modern pronunciation suggests that the morpheme boundary in the original verb muka.u has been lost.
  • From the nominalization of the ウ音便 (-u onbin, “-u euphonic change”) form of the verb 向かう (mukau, “to face”) (cf. dialectal forms like 向こうて (mukōte)).

Accordingly, the historical kana spellings should be むかふ according to the former, and むかう according to the latter.[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

向(む)こう • (mukō) ←むかふ (mukafu)?

  1. other side, opposite side, across
    月(つき)の向(む)こう
    tsuki no mukō
    the opposite side of the moon
    道(みち)の向(む)こう
    michi no mukō
    across the street
  2. the coming (several years etc.), the next (time period)
  3. over there

Derived terms

References
  1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. Hirayama, Teruo, editor (1960), 全国アクセント辞典 (Zenkoku Akusento Jiten, “Nationwide Accent Dictionary”) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Tōkyōdō, →ISBN
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