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Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 向 AND 往
The characters 向 (xiàng) and 往 (wǎng) are both prepositions that are used with verbs to mean “towards”.
向 is used more often compared to 往.
However, both have different situations in which they can be used.
HOW TO USE 向 FOR DIRECTIONS
As a preposition, 向 shows that an action is carried out in the direction mentioned. There might not be any actual movement involved.
Because of this, you can think of 向 as just mentioning a direction that something should happen or to whom something should happen.
Here 向 means “towards“, “to”, “for”, “from” or “at”.
NOTE | 向 and 给 might sometimes replace each other except when 向 is used to emphasise or show direction.
PATTERN
向 + Direction/Place + Verb
HOW TO USE 往 FOR DIRECTIONS
往 (wǎng) can be used before or after verbs to imply “towards”.
Before a verb
When 往 is placed before a direction or place and verb, it shows the direction of the movement.
往 before a verb is often used in daily speech.
Here 往 means “towards”, “to go (in a direction)”, or “to”.
PATTERN
往 + Direction/Place + Verb
After a verb
When 往 is placed after a verb and before a direction/place, the verb has to imply a sort of motion since 往 generally implies a destination.
Here, the verb has to be monosyllabic (one character verb) e.g. 带 (dài,), 开 (kāi), 飞 (fēi), etc.
Using 往 after a verb is common in written speech.
PATTERN
Verb + 往 + Direction/Place
HOW TO USE 往下
Depending on the context, 往下 (wǎng xià) can imply “a downward movement” or “keep going on doing an action”.
When 往下 (wǎng xià) is used with communication or sensory verbs like 看 (kàn), 说 (shuō), or 听 (tīng), etc, it shows the continuation of a previously interrupted action, so implies “keep going doing an action”.
PATTERN
Verb + 往 + Direction/Place
SUMMARY 向 vs 往
Now that you know how to use 向 and 往, let’s look at their similarities and differences.
Similarities
| Both can be used before a direction and verb 向/往 + direction + verb | – 请向/往前走。 Please go forward. – 过路的时候，请向/往左看又向/往右看。 When you’re crossing the road, please look left and right. |
| Both can be used after a verb and before a direction. 往 is used more often in these sentences Verb + 向/往 + direction | – 他开车向/往西去。 He drove towards the west. – 这趟火车开向/往北京。 This train goes to Beijing. |
Difference
Only 向 can be used with people and specific targets that are not destinations like employees, departments etc. The verb can be definite or abstract.
PATTERN
向 + People/Specific Targets + Definite/Abstract Verbs
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FAQs
What is the sentence structure for 向?
The sentence structure for 向 is:
向 + direction/person + verb
What is the sentence structure for 往?
往 can go before or after a verb.
Before a verb: 往 + direction/place + verb
After a verb: verb + 往 + direction/place
When can 给 replace 向?
给 can replace 向 when 向 is used with people and verbs.
给 cannot replace 向 when 向 is used with direction.
Examples:
– 我们必须向/给他们道谢。
wǒmen bìxū xiàng/gěi tāmen dàoxiè.
We must say thank you to them. / We must thank them.
– 她向/给老师道歉。
tā xiàng/gěi lǎoshī dàoqiàn.
She apologised to the teacher.
How is 向 pronounced?
向 is pronounced xiàng.
How is 往 pronounced?
往 is pronounced wǎng.
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