HSK 2
Correct
往 vs 向
/ wǎng vs xiàng /
Strokes
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Formula
1
往（向） + Direction/place
2
向 + Someone
3
向 + …… Verb + 着
4
向 + 着……
5
往 + Someone/something + 这儿 /那儿
Definition
往 and 向 both are prepositions (介词), indicating directions. 向 can also indicate the object of an action.
Example
往 and 向, their same usage.
往 and 向 can be followed by words indicating directions or locations. 往 is often used in spoken Chinese.
往（向） + Direction/place
1
Wǎng
往
(
xiàng
向
)
qián
前
zǒu
走
go ahead
2
Wǎng
往
(
xiàng
向
)
xuéxiào
学校
zǒu
走
walk to school
往 and 向, their different usage - situations where 往 cannot be used.
1) 向 instead of 往 can be followed by Noun, "往 + someone/something + 这儿 /那儿" can also be used. eg: 往妈妈这儿跑过来。
2) The Verb after 向 instead of 往 is followed by 着，which indicates a static status,
3) 向 instead of 往 can also be directly followed by 着.
2) The Verb after 向 instead of 往 is followed by 着，which indicates a static status,
3) 向 instead of 往 can also be directly followed by 着.
向 + Someone
向 + …… Verb + 着
向 + 着……
往 + Someone/something + 这儿 /那儿
3
Háizi
孩子
xiàng
向
māma
妈妈
pǎo
跑
guòlái
过来
。
Child is running to his mom.
4
Tā
他
xiàng
向
xià
下
kàn
看
zhāo
着
。
He is looking down.
5
Tā
他
jìxù
继续
xiàngzhāo
向着
nánbian
南边
zǒu
走
qù
去
。
He continues walking to south.
往 and 向, their different usage - Verbs collocated with 往 and 向
往 and 向 can also be used after verbs. However, the verbs fall into different categories.
The common Verbs before 往 include 派, 幵, 寄, 飞，etc; the common Verbs before 向 include 转, 跑, 走, 射, etc.
The common Verbs before 往 include 派, 幵, 寄, 飞，etc; the common Verbs before 向 include 转, 跑, 走, 射, etc.
6
Pài
派
wǎng
往
/
kāi
开
wǎng
往
/
jì
寄
wǎng
往
/
fēiwǎng
飞往
send to / drive to / mail to / fly to
7
Zhuǎnxiàng
转向
/
pǎoxiàng
跑向
/
zǒuxiàng
走向
/
shè
射
xiàng
向
turn to / run to / walk to / shoot at
Exercise
Judge True or false:
1. 他往我看。
2. 妈妈往孩子那儿看了一眼。
3. 我们还是面向南边坐着吧。
4. 大家向着家的方向走去。
5. 朋友们，公司要把我派向中国工作。
6. 孩子还没回来，妈妈一直向着家门口看。