Japanese with Manga

If you feel up to kendo with 気が向く

Idiom Explanation: To be in the mood for something with 気が向く

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of If you feel up to kendo with 気が向く.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 1 » Page 42

A member of the kendo club asks Ayumu to join the club, so they can win the next tournament. Although Ayumu is well known for his kendo prowess in middle school, he’s in the shogi club now, and rejects the request.

生徒(せいと):
「気(き)が向(む)いたら来(き)てくれよな」
“Come by whenever you feel like it.”
Literal: “If your feelings turn that way, come by.”
「いつでも大歓迎(だいかんげい)だから」
“You're always welcome.”

Key Points

1気(き)が向(む)いたら = “if you feel like it”
  • 気(き)が向(む)く means your interest or inclination turns toward doing something.
  • Here 気(き)が向(む)いたら makes the invitation low-pressure: come if the mood strikes you.
2What is omitted after 向(む)いたら
  • The fuller idea is 剣道部(けんどうぶ)に来(き)る気(き)が向(む)いたら “if you feel inclined to come to the kendo club”.
  • Japanese can leave the destination or activity implicit when the next verb, 来(き)て, makes it clear.
3Casual request: 来(き)てくれよな
  • 来(き)てくれ is a casual request, literally like “do me the favor of coming”.
  • The ending よな sounds friendly and insistent.
4いつでも大歓迎(だいかんげい)だから softens the invitation
  • いつでも means “anytime”, so the second line reinforces that there is no deadline or pressure.
  • だから gives the reason behind the invitation: because Ayumu is always welcome, he can drop by whenever he feels up to it.

See Also

それでも歩は寄せてくる © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.