Meaning and Usage
"振り向く" means to physically turn one's face or body to look back or around. It is often used when someone reacts to a sound, call, or event behind them.
Common Contexts
You will hear it in everyday situations like responding to someone calling your name, or when describing someone looking back while walking.
Collocations and Patterns
- 振り向く + ない (negative form): to not turn around, often implying ignoring or avoiding.
- 突然振り向く: suddenly turn around, showing surprise or reaction.
- 後ろから呼ばれて振り向く: called from behind and turn around.
Register and Nuance
This verb is neutral and common in both spoken and written Japanese. It can be used in casual and polite contexts without change.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 振り向く with simply turning around physically (回る or 回す). 振り向く specifically implies turning the face or upper body to look back, not just rotating the whole body or object.