向(む)き合(あ)う

むきあう

godan verb

to face each other, to confront

1. to face each other

To be positioned facing one another.

二人(ふたり)は向(む)き合(あ)って座(すわ)った。

The two sat facing each other.

鏡(かがみ)と向(む)き合(あ)う。

To face a mirror.

テーブルを挟(はさ)んで向(む)き合(あ)って話(はな)した。

We talked facing each other across the table.

2. to confront, to deal with

To face a problem, challenge, or difficult situation directly (figurative use).

問題(もんだい)と真剣(しんけん)に向(む)き合(あ)う必要(ひつよう)がある。

We need to seriously confront the problem.

自分(じぶん)と向(む)き合(あ)う時間(じかん)が欲(ほ)しい。

I want time to face myself.

現実(げんじつ)に向(む)き合(あ)わなければ、何(なに)も変(か)わらない。

If you don't face reality, nothing will change.

向(む)き合(あ)う is an intransitive verb (自動詞(じどうし)) meaning to face each other or confront.

COMPOUND STRUCTURE:

向(む)く (to face) + 合(あ)う (each other) → to face each other

ASPECT (ている):
向(む)き合(あ)っている indicates a state of facing each other or confronting something.

COMMON PATTERNS:

互(たが)いに向(む)き合(あ)う (face each other mutually)
問題(もんだい)に向(む)き合(あ)う (confront a problem)
自分(じぶん)と向(む)き合(あ)う (face oneself, reflect)
真剣(しんけん)に向(む)き合(あ)う (face seriously)

FIGURATIVE USAGE:
Commonly used in the figurative sense of dealing with or confronting problems, challenges, or oneself. Very common in self-help and psychological contexts.

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Added 2026.1.14 12:52 · Revised 2026.3.5 14:06

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