“〜ni mukete・〜ni muketa”: Toward / Aimed At 〜 [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「大会に向けて練習する」「子供に向けた番組」 — working toward a goal, or aimed at an audience.

「試験に向けて、毎日勉強している」 — moving toward a goal

「来月の試験に向けて、毎日勉強している」 (for next month's exam, I study every day) — 「〜に向けて・〜に向けた」 = toward a goal, facing an audience, meaning “doing something toward a goal/time point, or aimed at an audience.” It's a high-frequency N2 pattern for “goal direction.” This guide covers its three uses (goal／time point／audience), the attributive 「に向けた」, and separates it from the physical-direction 「〜に向かって.」

Core: に向けて = acting toward a goal／facing an audience

「〜に向けて」 marks an action proceeding toward a goal, time point, or audience, in three common uses:

• ① toward a goal (in order to achieve ～): 優勝に向けて練習する (train toward the championship), 合格に向けて (toward passing).
• ② toward a time point (preparing for a time): 開催に向けて準備を進める (advance preparations toward the opening).
• ③ facing an audience (put out to ～): 若者に向けて情報を発信する (put out information to young people), 世界に向けて (to the world).

The attributive 「〜に向けた ＋ noun」「〜に向けての ＋ noun」 = “a ～ aimed at ～” (合格に向けた対策 = measures toward passing).

Feel: “toward ～, facing ～, for ～” — the core is directional action: aiming one's effort at a goal/time point/audience.

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• オリンピックに向けて、選手たちは猛練習している。(Toward the Olympics, the athletes train intensely.)
• 卒業に向けて、論文を仕上げる。(Toward graduation, I finish my thesis.)
• 新製品の発売に向けた準備が進んでいる。(Preparations toward the new product launch are underway.)
• 海外の顧客に向けて、英語版サイトを作った。(For overseas customers, we made an English version of the site.)
• 問題解決に向け、各国が協力する。(Toward solving the problem, nations cooperate.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「に向けて」 vs 「に向かって」: abstract goal／audience vs physical direction／facing. Both carry “toward,” but differ in use. 「〜に向けて」 = toward an abstract goal/time point, or facing an audience (to strive, to send): 合格に向けて頑張る (strive toward passing), 市民に向けて呼びかける (appeal to citizens) — the focus is the abstract direction of “in order to achieve a goal／aimed at an audience.” 「〜に向かって」 = toward a physical direction, or directly facing a person/thing: 駅に向かって歩く (walk toward the station — physical), 彼は私に向かって叫んだ (he shouted at me — facing), 夢に向かって進む (advance toward a dream — here both work). Simply: “strive for a goal／aimed at a group” → に向けて; “move toward a place／directly facing a person” → に向かって.

② 「に向けた」 is the attributive form; don't drop the 「た」. When 「に向けて」 is to modify a noun, it becomes the attributive 「に向けた ＋ noun」 or 「に向けての ＋ noun」: 合格に向けた勉強 (study toward passing), 未来に向けた取り組み (efforts toward the future), 開催に向けての準備. You can't say 「×合格に向けて勉強」 as noun modification (in the noun-modifying slot use に向けた／に向けての). Mnemonic: to modify the following noun → に向けた／に向けての; to attach directly to a verb clause → に向けて.

③ What precedes is a ‘goal, time point, audience,' mostly a positive, active direction. What 「に向けて」 attaches to is usually a goal to achieve (優勝・合格・実現・解決), a time point/event to prepare for (試験・大会・開催・出発), or an audience to face (若者・世界・顧客). The main clause mostly carries preparation・effort・advancing・broadcasting — an active move toward a goal. So it gives a positive, goal-oriented feel. If it's merely “for (some reason)” without the directionality of “advancing toward a goal,” 「〜ために」 fits better; 「に向けて」 especially suits the context of “advancing step by step toward a clear goal/time point” (with a sense of time progression).

🔄 Compare: に向けて／に向かって／を目指して／のために

💡 Learning tip

「〜に向けて・〜に向けた」 = toward a goal, facing an audience — three points: ① three uses — toward a goal (合格に向けて), toward a time point (開催に向けて), facing an audience (世界に向けて); ② separate it from 「に向かって」 — 「に向けて」 is an abstract goal/audience (to achieve, aimed at a group), 「に向かって」 is physical direction/facing (walk toward the station, shout at me); ③ to modify a noun use the attributive 「に向けた／に向けての」 (合格に向けた対策), and written headlines often shorten it to 「に向け」 (実現に向け). Comparing relatives: for a clear endpoint goal use 〈を目指して〉, for plain purpose/reason use 「のために」, for physical direction use に向かって, for advancing toward a goal/time point use に向けて. This pattern carries a positive, goal-oriented dynamic, well suited to writing the active context of “striving/preparing toward a goal.”

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: 「に向けて」 and 「に向かって」 both mean ‘toward' — how do I tell them apart?

The key is abstract goal/audience vs physical direction/facing. 「〜に向けて」 = toward an abstract goal, time point, or facing an audience: used for “in order to achieve a goal” (優勝に向けて練習 = train toward the championship, 合格に向けて = toward passing), “preparing toward a time point” (大会に向けて準備 = prepare toward the meet), or “putting out to an audience” (若者に向けて発信 = broadcast to young people, 世界に向けて = to the world). Its “toward” is an abstract directionality — projecting effort/message at a goal or group, not actual movement. 「〜に向かって」 = moving in a physical direction, or directly facing a person/thing: 駅に向かって歩く (walk toward the station — actually moving that way), 海に向かって叫ぶ (shout at the sea), 先生に向かって失礼なことを言う (say something rude to the teacher's face — directly facing a person). Its “toward” is more concrete — an actual spatial direction, or facing someone face-to-face. Test: “striving for a goal／broadcasting to a group” (abstract) → に向けて; “moving toward a place／facing someone” (concrete) → に向かって. The gray zone is an abstract goal like 「夢に向かって／夢に向けて 進む (advance toward a dream)」, where both work, but 「に向かって」 has more of a “walking that way all along” movement feel, 「に向けて」 more of a “preparing, striving to realize it” purpose feel.

Q: What's the difference between 「に向けて」 and 「に向けた」? When do I use which?

The difference is what follows: attach to a verb (clause) use 「に向けて」, attach to a noun use 「に向けた／に向けての.」 「〜に向けて」 is adverbial, modifying the following verb/clause: 試験に向けて勉強する (study toward the exam — modifies 「勉強する」), 開催に向けて準備を進める (advance preparations toward the opening — modifies 「準備を進める」). 「〜に向けた」 (or 「〜に向けての」) is attributive, modifying the following noun: 試験に向けた勉強 (study toward the exam — modifies the noun 「勉強」), 開催に向けての準備 (preparations toward the opening — modifies the noun 「準備」), 未来に向けた投資 (investment toward the future). The test is simple: see whether a verb or a noun follows 「に向けて／た」 — a verb (勉強する・進める・作る) → に向けて; a noun (勉強・準備・投資・対策) → に向けた／に向けての. This is just Japanese's general rule of “連用 (て) modifies verbs, 連体 (た/の) modifies nouns.” Also, written text (especially news headlines) often shortens 「に向けて」 to 「に向け」 (実現に向け動き出す = start moving toward realization), a written abbreviation with the same meaning.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「大会___、選手たちは猛練習している。」(aiming for the tournament)

(A) に向けて　(B) について　(C) によって　(D) にとって

Q2. 「子供___教育番組」(an educational program aimed at children) Which form modifies the noun?

(A) に向けた　(B) に向けて　(C) に向け　(D) に向かう

Q3. What is the difference between 「に向けて」 and 「に向かって」?

(A) に向けて = an abstract goal/target; に向かって = movement in a concrete direction

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) に向けて = a concrete direction

(D) に向かって = an abstract goal

Q4. What does 「試験に向けて勉強する」 mean?

(A) To study with the exam as the goal

(B) To give up because of the exam

(C) After the exam ends

(D) Unrelated to the exam

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 未来に向けて歩む。　(B) 壁に向けてボールを投げる (concrete direction — should be に向かって)。

(C) 試験に向けたの勉強。　(D) 子供に向けて商品 (modifying a noun — should be に向けた)。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) に向けて ── Aiming for the tournament.

2. (A) に向けた ── Use に向けた to modify a noun.

3. (A) ── に向けて an abstract goal; に向かって a concrete direction.

4. (A) ── To study with the exam as the goal.

5. (A) ── 「未来に向けて」 is correct; a concrete direction (壁) should use に向かって, and modifying a noun uses に向けた.