往 vs 向: what is the difference?
往 mostly goes with places and directions, as in 往前走. 向 also goes with people, as in 向老师问好, and it fits speaking or learning verbs.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 往 | wǎng | Points the direction of movement toward a place. | 往 + direction / place + verb |
| 向 | xiàng | Points toward a direction or toward a person, for example when speaking or learning. | 向 + person / direction + verb |
往 (wǎng)
Points the direction of movement toward a place.
Structure: 往 + direction / place + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 往右拐就是银行。 | Wǎng yòu guǎi jiù shì yín háng. | Turn right and you will find the bank. |
| 这趟火车往北京开。 | Zhè tàng huǒ chē wǎng běi jīng kāi. | This train goes toward Beijing. |
| 请往里面走。 | Qǐng wǎng lǐ miàn zǒu. | Please walk in. |
Not: 他往我说话。 往 gives a direction of movement, not a person; use 对 or 向.
向 (xiàng)
Points toward a direction or toward a person, for example when speaking or learning.
Structure: 向 + person / direction + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 她向我笑了笑。 | Tā xiàng wǒ xiào le xiào. | She smiled at me. |
| 我们要向老师学习。 | Wǒ men yào xiàng lǎo shī xué xí. | We should learn from the teacher. |
| 请你向大家介绍一下。 | Qǐng nǐ xiàng dà jiā jiè shào yí xià. | Please introduce it to everyone. |
Not: 他向了我笑。 向 is a preposition and takes no 了; put the 了 on the verb.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Directional Prepositions: 往、向、从 (HSK 2) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 次 vs 遍 · 刚 vs 刚才 · 更 vs 还 · 还 vs 已经 · 看见 vs 看到 · 可以 vs 能 · 吗 vs 吧 · 吗 vs 是不是 · 如果 vs 只要 · 上去 vs 上来 · 有点儿 vs 一点儿 · 又 vs 再 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 往 and 向?
往 mostly goes with places and directions, as in 往前走. 向 also goes with people, as in 向老师问好, and it fits speaking or learning verbs.
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