振り向く
furimuku[ɸɯ̟ɾʲimɯ̟kɯ̟]
The Japanese phrase for "turn around" is 振り向く (furimuku).
振り向く is used when a person turns their head or body to look at someone or something that has called their name or appeared behind them. It is an intransitive verb.
Meaning: intransitive: to physically rotate horizontally 180 degrees (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
furimuku
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'turn around', which can mean to reverse a situation (like a failing business), 振り向く is almost never used for business or systemic recovery.
- In Japanese literature, the phrase 振り向く is frequently used as a metaphor for 'looking back' at one's past or reflecting on a previous era.
- The kanji for the first part of 振り向く, 振, also carries the meaning of 'to shake' or 'to wave', suggesting a sense of swinging or oscillating movement.
Examples in context
- 振り向いてTurn around.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 振り向く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
