Suited to, aimed at: 〜向き・〜向け

〜向き and 〜向け look alike but don't say the same thing. 向き: the thing naturally suits someone, through its qualities (子ども向きの本, “a book children enjoy”). 向け: the thing was designed specifically for an audience (外国人向けのパンフレット, “a brochure made for foreigners”). 向き also indicates orientation: 南向きの部屋, “a south-facing room”.

• これは外国人向けのパンフレットです。これはがいこくじんむけのぱんふれっとです。This is a brochure aimed at foreigners.
• この仕事は、人と話すのが好きな人向きだ。このしごとは、ひととはなすのがすきなひとむきだ。This job suits people who like talking to others.
• 南向きの部屋は明るい。みなみむきのへやはあかるい。South-facing rooms are bright.

Both come from the verb 向く / 向ける, “to face / to turn towards”. 向く is intransitive: the thing naturally faces towards someone, it suits them. 向ける is transitive: someone has turned the thing towards an audience, designed it for them.

A trick to remember: 向け = “aimed at” (someone intended it), 向き = “suited to” (it just happens to fit).

• これは初心者向けの料理教室です。これはしょしんしゃむけのりょうりきょうしつです。This is a cookery class designed for beginners.

Ask yourself: did someone create the thing for this audience (向け)? Or does it simply suit them, perhaps without anyone intending it (向き)? A book written for children is 子ども向け; a book for adults that children love too is 子ども向き.

• 子ども向けのテレビ番組が少なくなった。こどもむけのてれびばんぐみがすくなくなった。There are fewer children's TV programmes now.
• この料理はあまり辛くないので、子ども向きだ。このりょうりはあまりからくないので、こどもむきだ。This dish isn't very spicy, so it's good for children.

向き and 向け behave like nouns: 〜向きだ at the end of a sentence, 〜向きの + noun before a noun, 〜向きに + verb as an adverb (“in a way suited to”).

• 外国人向けに、英語の地図も用意しました。がいこくじんむけに、えいごのちずもよういしました。For foreign visitors, we've also prepared maps in English.
• 北向きの部屋は、夏でも少し涼しい。きたむきのへやは、なつでもすこしすずしい。North-facing rooms stay a little cool, even in summer.