～向き・～向け — Suited to (向き) / aimed at (向け) | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

N＋向き means “suited to N” by its nature, whatever the intention (初心者向きの山, a mountain that happens to be easy for beginners). N＋向け means “intended for, aimed at N”: made specifically for that audience or market (子ども向けの番組, アジア向けに輸出). One judges properties; the other states the maker's intent.

Formation

N＋向き: 初心者 → 初心者向き, 夏 → 夏向き
向きだ／向きです; before a noun — 向きの＋N; negative: 向きではない
N＋向け: 子ども → 子ども向け, 海外 → 海外向け
向けだ／向けです; before a noun — 向けの＋N; before a verb: 向けに＋V (高齢者向けに作る)

When to use it

Where to use it: 向き appears in advice and assessments — 夏向きの服, この仕事は営業向きだ. 向け appears in descriptions of products, services and texts: 外国人向けの教科書, 海外向けに輸出する.
Where not to use it: 向き itself evaluates suitability; 向け identifies a target audience or destination. 子ども向きに作る can mean “make it suitable for children”; 子ども向けに作る more clearly marks the intention to create it for them. Natural personality traits normally use 営業向きの性格.

Examples

20 sentences

この山道やまみちはなだらかで、初心者しょしんしゃ向きむきです。
This mountain trail has gentle slopes, so it's well suited to beginners.
麻あさのシャツは涼しくてすずしくて、夏なつ向きむきだ。
Linen shirts are cool and just right for summer.
話し好きなはなしずきな彼かれは、営業えいぎょう向きむきの性格せいかくだ。
He loves to talk — he has just the right personality for sales.
駅えきから遠いとおいこの家いえは、車くるまのある人ひと向きむきだ。
This house is far from the station, so it suits people with a car.
この映画えいがは怖いこわいシーンが多くておおくて、子どもこども向きむきではない。
This movie has a lot of scary scenes, so it isn't suitable for children.
外国人がいこくじん向けむけの日本語にほんごの教科書きょうかしょはありますか？
Do you have any Japanese textbooks written for foreign learners?
市しは高齢者こうれいしゃ向けむけに、無料むりょうのバスを走らせてはしらせている。
The city runs free buses specifically for elderly residents.
この工場こうじょうの車くるまは、主におもにアジア向けむけに輸出ゆしゅつされている。
Cars from this factory are mainly exported to Asian markets.

12 more examples

若者わかもの向けむけのアプリなのに、意外といがいと年配ねんぱいの利用者りようしゃが多いおおい。
The app is aimed at young people, yet surprisingly many of its users are older.
この説明書せつめいしょは専門家せんもんか向けむけだから、私わたしには難しすぎるむずかしすぎる。
This manual is written for specialists, so it's too difficult for me.
私わたしは人見知りひとみしりだから、接客せっきゃく向きむきじゃない。
I'm shy with strangers, so I'm not suited to customer service.
デート向きむきの静かなしずかな店みせを知りませんしりませんか？
Do you know a quiet place that would be good for a date?
この料理りょうりは手間てまがかからないので、忙しいいそがしい人ひと向きむきだ。
This dish takes little effort, so it suits busy people.
早起きはやおきが得意なとくいな人ひとは、パン屋ぱんや向きむきかもしれない。
People who find it easy to get up early might be well suited to working in a bakery.
このニュースサイトは小学生しょうがくせい向けむけなので、言葉ことばがやさしい。
This news site is aimed at elementary school kids, so the language is easy.
駅えきの近くちかくに、ペット向けむけのホテルができたそうです。
I heard a hotel for pets has opened near the station.
この本ほんは、日本語にほんごを学ぶまなぶ人ひと向けむけに書かれてかかれている。
This book is written for people who are studying Japanese.
このアニメは大人おとな向けむけで、内容ないようがかなり暗いくらい。
This anime is made for adults, and its story is pretty dark.
女性じょせい向けむけの雑誌ざっしは、どこにありますか？
Where are the women's magazines?
これは業務用でぎょうむようで、一般いっぱんの家庭かてい向けむけではありません。
This is a commercial model and isn't intended for ordinary households.

Important notes

On its own, 向き also means “direction”: 南向きの部屋 is a south-facing room. That's a separate meaning.
向けに typically goes with verbs of making and sending: 作る, 書く, 開発する, 輸出する, 販売する.
に向いている is the verb phrase “is cut out for” (彼は教師に向いている), close in meaning to 向き; 向け can't be used this way.

Common mistakes

✗ 彼は営業向けの性格だ → ✓ 営業向きの性格だ — nobody designed his personality for sales; it's a quality that happens to suit it.
✗ アジア向きに輸出する → ✓ アジア向けに輸出する — 向け marks the target market or destination; 向き isn't used that way.
✗ 子ども向けな本 → ✓ 子ども向けの本 — 向け and 向き behave like nouns and take の before another noun.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 若者わかもの向けむけのアプリなのに、意外といがいと年配ねんぱいの利用者りようしゃが多いおおい。 For young people today, life without a smartphone is unthinkable.I am going to Japan in order to study Japanese.The app is aimed at young people, yet surprisingly many of its users are older.
Sentence 2: このニュースサイトは小学生しょうがくせい向けむけなので、言葉ことばがやさしい。 For elderly people, though, this slope is pretty tough.This sign is here to prevent accidents.This news site is aimed at elementary school kids, so the language is easy.
Sentence 3: これは業務用でぎょうむようで、一般いっぱんの家庭かてい向けむけではありません。 I walk every morning for my health.This is a commercial model and isn't intended for ordinary households.For me, family matters more than anything.