向かう
 

Hi, I was wondering if I could replace 行く with 向かうfor phrases like these:

高島屋に行く

高島屋に向かう

ここからどこに行くのですか？

ここからどこに向かうのですか？

go to/head for
 

Hi.
I'm wondering if I can rephrase "go to" to "head for" in the following sentences.

I'm going to Takashimaya.
I'm heading for Takashimaya.

Where are you going?
Where are you heading for?

Thanks.

I think it's the same thing from a certain point of view, though different from a different point of view.

For "Where are you heading for/to?", do you think is correct to say "どちらに向かいますか。"?

I think both "I'm heading for Takashimaya." and "Where are you heading for?" are correct but I tend to have a habit of saying I am heading "to" instead of "for", so I am not entirely sure.

KyleGoetz will be able to solve the mystery.

OK. :)
Then, :)
I'm going to Takashimaya.
I'm heading to Takashimaya.

Where are you going from here?
Where are you heading to, from here?

What is the difference of those sentences?

They are all the same to me. But I doubt they can be use interchangeable for every phrases.

Like for example:

Nottingham Forest Football Club heading for victory in european cup.

They are all the same to me. But I doubt they can be use interchangeable for every phrases.

Like for example:
10日間の闘病の後、彼の病気はようやく快方に向かった� ��
:)

Does that mean "At last his illness is heading for the better after 10 days of battling (with the disease)"?

Hmmm, I get what this is all about now.

I think both are correct, but have slightly different implications.

To me, both "for" and "to" can mean a location you are moving toward literally. However, "for" can also be used for a location that is metaphorical (i.e., a destination like "death" or "disaster").

I am headed for disaster. OK!
I am headed to disaster. No!
I am headed toward disaster. OK!

Maybe also using "to" has a sense of a more direct, purposeful movement than "for"? I could be getting really, really nitpicky on this one. That could just be personal preference, though—I tend to say "I'm headed to the store" when I'm going out the front door and shouting to my wife to tell her where I'm going. I don't say "I'm headed for the store" on such an occasion.

Thanks for the explanation, KyleGoetz. Glad that you included some examples because what I always say is "I am heading towards the store" or "I am heading for the store".

Is that incorrect?

"I am heading for the store" sounds perfectly fine to me. I want to say there's a difference between "for" and "to" here, but since have no idea what it is, let's say there isn't a difference. It's not a difference in tone, formality, emotion, or anything I can think of.

As for "I am heading towards the store," it sounds like you aren't going to the store, but merely in the direction of the store. Like maybe you think you'll stop halfway, or there's a church next to the store you're going to, or something like that.

But if you said "towards" (I think "towards" sounds more British and "toward" more American), everyone will understand your meaning, and I don't think anyone would stop and think "this is not a natural English speaker."

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't really worry. You might be something like .1% incorrect using it, but no one will probably even notice it.

This entire thing is almost exactly like the に・へ行く distinction.

One more question. Am I right to say that "I'm headed for the store" and "I am heading for the store" is exactly the same meaning?