B1 Collocation Neutre 1 min de lecture

目標に向かう

Mokuhyou ni mukau

Work towards a goal

Entraîne-toi

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This phrase describes the active process of working toward a specific objective or ambition.

  • Means: To exert effort in the direction of a set target.
  • Used in: Career planning, personal growth discussions, and project management.
  • Don't confuse: {目標|もくひょう}を{達成|たっせい}する (to achieve the goal) - this is the process, not the result.
Target symbol + Walking person = Focused progress

Explication à ton niveau :

This phrase means you are walking to a goal. You use it when you want to do something important. It is like saying 'I am working on my plan.'
You use this phrase to talk about your future plans. It shows that you have a target and you are doing things to get there. It is common in school or work.
At the B1 level, you use this to describe the active process of striving toward an objective. It implies that you are not just thinking about the goal, but taking concrete steps to reach it. It is a standard collocation for professional and personal development contexts.
This collocation functions as a sophisticated way to articulate strategic alignment. It is frequently employed in corporate environments to denote that individual or team efforts are being directed toward a specific organizational outcome, demonstrating a high level of intentionality and focus.
The phrase serves as a linguistic marker for goal-oriented behavior. It encapsulates the teleological nature of human action, where current efforts are mediated by a future-oriented objective. Its usage indicates a nuanced understanding of how Japanese speakers conceptualize progress as a spatial movement toward a defined point.
This expression exemplifies the cognitive metaphor of 'purposes as destinations.' By utilizing the verb 'mukau' (to face/head toward), the speaker constructs a mental model where the subject is an agent navigating a trajectory toward a desired state. It is a quintessential example of how Japanese utilizes spatial verbs to articulate abstract psychological states of motivation and strategic planning.

Signification

To strive and make progress in the direction of a desired objective.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The emphasis is on the 'path' (do).

💡

Particle check

Always use 'ni' with 'mukau'.

💡

Particle check

Always use 'ni' with 'mukau'.

Teste-toi

Fill in the correct particle.

{目標|もくひょう} ___ {向|む}かう。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : に

The particle 'ni' indicates the target of the movement.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Banque d exercices

2 exercices
Choisis la bonne réponse Fill Blank

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Fill in the correct particle. Fill Blank A2

{目標|もくひょう} ___ {向|む}かう。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : に

The particle 'ni' indicates the target of the movement.

🎉 Score : /2

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, but it is more common for abstract goals.

Expressions liées

🔄

目標を目指す

synonym

To aim for a goal.

Où l'utiliser

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: What are your career plans?

Candidate: {目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{日々|ひび}努力|どりょく}しています。

formal
🤝

Team Meeting

Manager: Let's align our efforts.

Employee: {全員|ぜんいん}で{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かいましょう。

neutral

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a target (Mokuhyou) and you are walking (Mukau) toward it with a map.

Association visuelle

A hiker looking at a compass, with a mountain peak labeled 'Goal' in the distance.

Story

Kenji had a dream. He drew a target on his wall. Every morning, he looked at it and felt he was moving toward his goal. He didn't stop, even when it rained.

In Other Languages

English: 'Working toward a goal'. Spanish: 'Trabajar hacia una meta'.

Word Web

目標目指す努力進む達成計画

Défi

Write down one goal and one action you will take today to move toward it.

Review in 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.

Prononciation

Stress Flat pitch accent.

Clear 'mo' and 'ku'.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{邁進|まいしん}しております。

{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{邁進|まいしん}しております。 (Professional vs casual progress update)

Neutre
{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{努力|どりょく}しています。

{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{努力|どりょく}しています。 (Professional vs casual progress update)

Informel
{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{頑張|がんば}ってるよ。

{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{頑張|がんば}ってるよ。 (Professional vs casual progress update)

Argot
{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{突|つっ}っ{走|はし}ってる！

{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かって{突|つっ}っ{走|はし}ってる！ (Professional vs casual progress update)

Derived from the combination of 'mokuhyou' (target) and 'mukau' (to face).

Edo:

Le savais-tu ?

The kanji {標|ひょう} originally meant a signpost in a forest.

Notes culturelles

The emphasis is on the 'path' (do).

“{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かう{姿勢|しせい}が{評価|ひょうか}される。”

Amorces de conversation

“

What is your current goal?

Erreurs courantes

✗

{目標|もくひょう}を{向|む}かう

✓

{目標|もくひょう}に{向|む}かう

wrong preposition
The particle 'ni' is required for the direction of movement, not 'o'.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Trabajar hacia una meta

Japanese focuses more on the 'facing' aspect (mukau).

French Very Similar

Travailler vers un objectif

French is more direct; Japanese is more process-oriented.

German Very Similar

Auf ein Ziel hinarbeiten

German is more verb-focused with prefixes.

Japanese self

目標に向かう

N/A

Arabic Very Similar

العمل نحو هدف

Arabic is highly formal in this phrasing.

Chinese Very Similar

朝着目标努力

Chinese often explicitly adds 'hard work' (nuli).

Korean Very Similar

목표를 향해 나아가다

Korean phrasing is almost identical in structure.

Portuguese Very Similar

Trabalhar em direção a um objetivo

Portuguese is more descriptive with the prepositional phrase.

Spotted in the Real World

📰

(2023)

“目標に向かって進む”

Discussing athlete progress.

Facile à confondre

目標に向かう vs 目標を達成する

Learners think it means 'working toward'.

達成 is the result, 向かう is the process.

Questions fréquentes (1)

Yes, but it is more common for abstract goals.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !