Traditional: 曏
xiàng HSK 3

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他向东走。
Tā xiàng dōng zǒu.
He walks towards the east.
我向老师问好。
Wǒ xiàng lǎoshī wènhǎo.
I greet the teacher.
她向妈妈笑。
Tā xiàng māma xiào.
She smiles at her mother.
他向东走。
Tā xiàng dōng zǒu.
He walks east.
她向老师问好。
Tā xiàng lǎoshī wènhǎo.
She greets the teacher.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 向 as an arrow pointing in a direction—the character looks like a person (人) under a roof (宀), suggesting orientation or facing a way. Associate it with common phrases like '向左转' (turn left) to reinforce its directional meaning.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. Common in giving directions, describing actions (e.g., looking, walking towards something), or indicating metaphorical direction (e.g., striving towards a goal). It's versatile and frequently appears in daily communication.

📖 Grammar Points

Used in the structure: Subject + Verb + 向 + Direction/Target (e.g., 他跑向学校). It can also precede verbs as an adverbial: 向 + Direction + Verb (e.g., 向右走). In formal contexts, it can introduce indirect objects: 向 + Person + Verb (e.g., 向老师请教).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 向 is often used in polite expressions, such as 向您致敬 (salute to you), reflecting respect and social harmony. It's common in directional phrases due to the importance of spatial orientation in language, like in feng shui or navigation.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 往 (wǎng), which also means 'towards,' 向 is more general and can indicate both physical and abstract direction, while 往 is often for physical movement. 朝 (cháo) is similar but more colloquial and can imply facing something, whereas 向 is neutral and common in instructions.

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