向こう（むこう、mukou）
- over there/beyond

The Japanese word 向こう向こう primarily means "over there," "the other side," or "beyond." It refers to a place that is distant from the speaker and listener, or a place that is out of sight. It can also imply a direction or the other party in a negotiation or discussion. The specific meaning can vary depending on the context.

⚫︎向こう向こうに家が見えます。 Translation: I can see a house over there. ⚫︎向こう向こうのチームは強かった。 Translation: The team on the other side was strong. ⚫︎向こう向こうがあなたを呼んでいます。 Translation: They (over there) are calling you.

⚫︎ Use 向こう向こう when referring to a place that is not near the speaker or the listener. ⚫︎ It's also used to indicate the other side of something, like a river or a road. ⚫︎ You can use it in conversations to refer to people or groups. For instance, 向こう向こうの会社 (the other company). ⚫︎ The nuance can sometimes be slightly impersonal, particularly when referring to an unspecified location or group.

⚫︎ 向こう向こう is usually written in hiragana. ⚫︎ The kanji form is 向こう向こう (方向+う). Although kanji is available, it is rarely used. ⚫︎ The okurigana is usually "う".

⚫︎ あちら (achira): "over there," more polite. ⚫︎ そちら (sochira): "there," referring to a place near the listener. ⚫︎ 遠い所 (tooi tokoro): "distant place." ⚫︎ あっち (atchi): informal version of あちらあちら.

⚫︎ こちら (kochira): "here," referring to a place near the speaker. ⚫︎ 手前 (tema): "this side," "near side." ⚫︎ ここ (koko): "here."

駅は《向こう向こうです。》 ・Translation: The station is over there. ・Explanation: The speaker is indicating the location of the station, which is away from them.

《向こう向こうの人は誰ですか？》 ・Translation: Who is that person over there? ・Explanation: The speaker is pointing to a person in the distance and asking for identification.

The word 向こう向こう comes from the word 向く (muku), which means "to turn," "to face," or "to be oriented towards," plus the suffix "う". It originally described a direction or place "facing" or "in the direction of" something.