Soppo wo Muku (そっぽを向く - Looking Away)

Soppo wo Muku

To describe that someone looks away, refuses to see something, or becomes uncooperative, you can use the Japanese phrase 'soppo wo muku' (そっぽを向く).

'Muku' (向く) is a common Japanese term that means "to look toward," but 'soppo' (そっぽ) is basically used only in this phrase.

Soppo is written as 外方 in kanji, and as these kanji characters imply, it means "another direction" or "outside direction."

That is to say, the literal meaning of 'soppo wo muku' is "to look toward another/outside direction."

そっぽを向く

相手を見ずによその方を向くことや、協調しない態度をとることを「そっぽを向く」と言うことがあります。

「向く」は "to look toward" を意味する一般的な日本語ですが、「そっぽ」は基本的に「そっぽを向く」の表現の中でしか使われません。

「そっぽ」は漢字で「外方」と書き、漢字が意味するとおり、外の方向 ("another direction" or "outside direction") を意味します。

すなわち「そっぽを向く」は、"to look toward another/outside direction" という意味となります。

• To describe that someone looks away, refuses to see something, or becomes uncooperative, you can use the Japanese phrase 'soppo wo muku' (そっぽを向く).
• To describe that someone who looks away, refuses to see something, or becomes uncooperative, you can use the Japanese phrase 'soppo wo muku' (そっぽを向く).

• 'Muku' (向く) is a common Japanese term that means "to look toward," but 'soppo' (そっぽ) is basically used only in this phrase.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Soppo is written as 外方 in kanji, and as these kanji characters imply, it means "another direction" or "outside direction."
• Soppo is written as 外方 in kanji, and as implied by these kanji characters, it means "another direction" or "outside direction."

• That is to say, the literal meaning of 'soppo wo muku' is "to look toward another/outside direction."
• That is to say, the literal meaning of 'soppo wo muku' is "to look toward to another/outside direction."

Really helpful as always! Thank you for writing these all the time. ^^

Can I use it like that?
隊長を逆らうように、彼が硬い目でそっぽを向いた。

• To describe that someone looks away, refuses to see something, or becomes uncooperative, you can use the Japanese phrase 'soppo wo muku' (そっぽを向く).
• To describe that someone who looks away, refuses to see something, or becomes uncooperative, you can use the Japanese phrase 'soppo wo muku' (そっぽを向く).

• 'Muku' (向く) is a common Japanese term that means "to look toward," but 'soppo' (そっぽ) is basically used only in this phrase.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Soppo is written as 外方 in kanji, and as these kanji characters imply, it means "another direction" or "outside direction."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• That is to say, the literal meaning of 'soppo wo muku' is "to look toward another/outside direction."
• That is to say, the literal meaning of 'soppo wo muku' is "to look toward another/the outside direction."

Very useful entry, as always! Thank you!