Dictionary › 向

向

xiàng

HSK 2 Character

What 向 means

1. towards
2. to face
3. to turn towards
4. direction
5. to support
6. to side with
7. shortly before
8. formerly
9. always
10. all along
11. (suffix) suitable for ...
12. oriented to ...

Other readings

向 is 多音字 — it is read more than one way, and the reading changes the meaning.

• xiàngto tend toward; to guide; variant of {向|xiàng}
• Xiàngsurname Xiang
• xiàngvariant of {向|xiàng}; direction; orientation

Example sentences

• 向上！
  Ascend!
• 向左转。
  Turn to the left.
• 向右转。
  Turn right.
• 向上去。
  Ascend.
• 他很内向。
  Tā hěn nèixiàng.
  He is introverted.
• 向他道歉。
  Apologize to him.

Words starting with 向

• 向往xiàng wǎngto yearn for; to look forward to
• 向来xiàng láialways (previously)
• 向导xiàng dǎoguide
• 向前xiàng qiánforward; onward
• 向上xiàng shàngupward; up; to advance
• 向着xiàng zhetowards; facing (sb or sth); (colloquial) to side with
• 向日葵xiàng rì kuísunflower (Helianthus annuus)
• 向阳xiàng yángfacing the sun; exposed to the sun
• 向下xiàng xiàdown; downward
• 向外xiàng wàioutward
• 向好xiàng hǎoto be on a positive trend; to be improving
• 向后xiàng hòubackward
• 向性xiàng xìngtropism
• 向心力xiàng xīn lìcentripetal force; (fig.) cohering force; cohesion
• 向量xiàng liàng(math) vector
• 向量空间xiàng liàng kōng jiān(math) vector space; linear space
• 向例xiàng lìcustom; usual practice; convention up to now
• 向巴平措Xiàng bā Píng cuòQiangba Puncog (1947-), chairman of the government of Tibet (i.e. governor) 2003-2010
• 向量图形xiàng liàng tú xíng(computing) vector graphics
• 向量积xiàng liàng jī(math) vector product; cross product
• 向火xiàng huǒto warm oneself facing the fire
• 向背xiàng bèisupport or opposition; alignment with or against a person, group or cause
• 向阳区Xiàng yáng QūXiangyang, a district of Jiamusi City 佳木斯市; Xiangyang, a district of Hegang City 鹤岗市
• 向阳花xiàng yáng huāsunflower

Words containing 向

• 方向fāng xiàngdirection; orientation
• 一向yī xiànga period of time in the recent past; (indicating a period of time up to the present) all…
• 倾向qīng xiàngtrend; tendency; orientation
• 导向dǎo xiàngto be oriented towards; orientation
• 意向yì xiàngintention; purpose; intent
• 外向wài xiàngextroverted (personality); (economics etc) export-oriented
• 欣欣向荣xīn xīn xiàng róng(idiom) flourishing; thriving
• 走向zǒu xiàngdirection; strike (i.e. angle of inclination in geology); inclination
• 转向zhuǎn xiàngto change direction; fig. to change one's stance
• 面向miàn xiàngto face; to turn towards; geared towards; catering for; -oriented; (Taiwan) aspect; facet
• 指向zhǐ xiàngto point towards; aimed at; facing
• 通向tōng xiàngto lead to
• 去向qù xiàngdirection in which sb or sth has gone; whereabouts
• 方向盘fāng xiàng pánsteering wheel
• 内向nèi xiàngreserved (personality); introverted; (economics etc) domestic-oriented
• 取向qǔ xiàngorientation; direction
• 动向dòng xiàngtrend; tendency
• 冲向chōng xiàngto charge into
• 趋向qū xiàngdirection; trend; to incline
• 双向shuāng xiàngbidirectional; two-way; interactive
• 偏向piān xiàngpartial towards sth; to prefer; to incline
• 横向héng xiànghorizontal; orthogonal; perpendicular
• 流向liú xiàngdirection of a current; direction of flow; to flow toward
• 志向zhì xiàngambition; goal; ideal

Characters that look like 向

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 网wǎngnet; web; network; to net; to catch with a net
• 由yóuto follow; from; because of; due to
• 余yú(literary) I; me; variant of 余
• 曲qǔtune; song
• 闲xiánenclosure; (variant of 闲; unoccupied
• 丙bǐngthird of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干; third in order…

Sounds the same

Read xiàng, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 像to resemble; to be like; to look as if
• 象elephant; shape; form
• 项back of neck; item; thing
• 橡oak; Quercus serrata
• 巷lane; alley
• 相appearance; portrait; picture
• 蟓silkworm
• 珦a kind of jade
• 衖variant of 巷