振(ふ)り向(む)く

ふりむく
verb (godan)
to turn around; to look back
自動詞 intransitiveaction
See also: 振(ふ)り返(かえ)る (look back + reflect)
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present振(ふ)り向(む)く振(ふ)り向(む)かない
Present polite振(ふ)り向(む)きます振(ふ)り向(む)きません
Past振(ふ)り向(む)いた振(ふ)り向(む)かなかった
Past polite振(ふ)り向(む)きました振(ふ)り向(む)きませんでした
て form振(ふ)り向(む)いて振(ふ)り向(む)かなくて
ている present振(ふ)り向(む)いている振(ふ)り向(む)いていない
ている polite振(ふ)り向(む)いています振(ふ)り向(む)いていません
ている past振(ふ)り向(む)いていた振(ふ)り向(む)いていなかった
ている past polite振(ふ)り向(む)いていました振(ふ)り向(む)いていませんでした
Conditional ば振(ふ)り向(む)けば振(ふ)り向(む)かなければ
Conditional たら振(ふ)り向(む)いたら振(ふ)り向(む)かなかったら
Volitional振(ふ)り向(む)こう—
Volitional polite振(ふ)り向(む)きましょう—
Potential振(ふ)り向(む)ける振(ふ)り向(む)けない
Passive振(ふ)り向(む)かれる振(ふ)り向(む)かれない
Causative振(ふ)り向(む)かせる振(ふ)り向(む)かせない
Imperative振(ふ)り向(む)け振(ふ)り向(む)くな
1. to turn around; to turn one's head
To physically turn to face another direction, especially behind oneself.
Someone turned around.
Someone called out from behind me and I turned around.
When I was suddenly tapped on the shoulder and turned around, my friend was standing there.
While walking down the street, I heard my name called from behind, and when I turned around, it was an old classmate.
2. to pay attention to; to take notice of
To show interest in someone or something, often used in the negative.
He won't pay attention to me.
No matter how much I try to get his attention, he won't give me a second glance.
I was such a plain presence that nobody took notice of me.
She is so beautiful that everyone turns to look at her when she walks down the street.

振(ふ)り向(む)く is an intransitive verb (自動詞(じどうし)) formed from 振(ふ)る (to swing) + 向(む)く (to face). It primarily describes the physical action of turning around.

ASPECT (ている):
振(ふ)り向(む)いている indicates someone has turned around and is facing that direction.

Common patterns

Common expressions

振(ふ)り向(む)いてくれない in romantic contexts means someone won't show interest or return one's feelings.

Similar words

  • 振(ふ)り返(かえ)る: to look back (physical + figurative reflection)
  • 振(ふ)り向(む)く: primarily physical turning, but also figurative for showing interest or attention (sense 2, often in romantic contexts)