Japanese word

振り向く

Pronunciation

Romajifurimuku

Meaning

  • verbturn around

Example

ドアの音がして、振り向きました。do a no oto ga shi te fu ri mu ki ma shi ta

I turned around when I heard the sound of the door.

Illustration for 振り向く (turn around)

More examples

写真を撮るので、こちらを振り向いてください。sha shin o to ru no de ko chi ra o fu ri mu i te ku da sa i

Please turn to face this way because I am going to take a picture.

Core concept

Describes turning the face or body toward something behind or to the side, often in response to a sound or call.

Common phrases

  • 後ろを振り向くushi ro o fu ri mu ku

    turn around to look behind

  • 声のほうを振り向くkoe no hō o fu ri mu ku

    turn toward the voice

  • こちらを振り向くko chi ra o fu ri mu ku

    turn to face this way

Similar words

振り返るfurikaeru: To turn the face or body back toward something behind, often after moving away.
向き直るmukinaoru: To turn the body to face a different direction or person.

Definition in Japanese

後ろを向くように、顔や体の向きを変える。ushi ro o mu ku yō ni kao ya karada no mu ki o ka e ru

Word origin

The native Japanese compound 振り向く (furimuku) combines 振り (furi), the continuative form of 振る (furu, "turn or swing"), with 向く (muku, "face toward").

Usage tips

  • The negative form 振り向かない (furimukanai) commonly appears in scenes where a person continues walking without turning toward something behind.

Other meanings

  • look backverb

Related words

  • 振り向きfurimukiturning aroundnoun

Word lists with this word