向け【むけ】

向け is a suffix attached to nouns to indicate that something is intended for, aimed at, or designed for a particular audience, group, or purpose. It implies that someone deliberately created or tailored something with a specific target in mind.

Basic usage

Attach 向け directly to a noun representing the target audience. When modifying another noun, add の after 向け.

向け can also be used with specific countries, regions, or markets:

向け vs. 向き

A related expression is むき向き (むき), which means "suitable for" or "good for." The key difference is that 向け implies something was deliberately designed or targeted for a group, while 向き suggests something happens to be naturally suitable for someone.

Compare:

Common patterns

向け frequently appears in product descriptions, marketing, publishing, and media contexts. Common combinations include こどもむけ子供向け, おとな大人むけ向け, しょしんしゃ初心者むけ向け, じょうきゅうしゃ上級者むけ向け, じょせい女性むけ向け, だんせい男性むけ向け, がいこくじん外国人むけ向け, and びじねすビジネスむけ向け.