往 · 向
towards, to (a direction)
Structure
往／向 + 方向 + 动词
What it means
往 or 向 + a direction says which way an action goes: 往东走 “go east”, 往左走 “turn left”.
How it is built
往／向 + direction (东, 北, 左, 右, 前, h1-12) + verb: 到了路口往左走 (At the junction, turn left).
When to use it
往 is the everyday word for directions. 向 sounds a little more formal, and only 向 can point at a person: 向他问路 “ask him the way”.
Watch out
Put it before the verb, not after. ✗ 走往东。 ✓ 往东走。 With a person use 向: ✗ 往他问路 ✓ 向他问路.
Examples
一直往前走。
Go straight ahead.
到了路口往左走。
At the junction, turn left.
请大家向右看。
Everyone, please look to the right.
我向老师问了一个问题。
I asked the teacher a question.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 11: 一直往东走 (Directions in the city)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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