1.
to look toward; to turn one's eyes to
To physically direct one's gaze toward something.
窓の外に目を向けた。
I turned my eyes toward the window.
彼はこちらに目を向けた。
He looked in this direction.
声のする方に目���向けると、友人が立ってい���。
When I looked toward the voice, my friend was standing there.
2.
to turn one's attention to; to pay attention to; to focus on
To direct one's awareness or interest toward an issue, topic, or aspect. The figurative meaning is more common.
環境問題に目を向ける。
To turn one's attention to environmental issues.
海外にも目��向ける必要がある。
We need to turn our attention overseas as well.
問題の原因にもっと目を向けるべきだ。
We should pay more attention to the cause of the problem.
Literally 'to direct one's eyes toward.' The figurative sense (paying attention to an issue or topic) is more common in written and formal Japanese. The expression emphasizes a deliberate, conscious act of focusing attention.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 現実に目を向ける: to face reality
- 未来に目を向ける: to look toward the future
- 問題に目を向ける: to turn attention to a problem
- 世界に目を��ける: to look out at the world
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 注目する: to pay attention to — more about focusing closely on something noteworthy
- 目を向ける is about deliberately directing attention, often toward something previously overlooked
- 目をそらす: to look away; to avert one's eyes — the opposite action