Directional Prepositions: 往、向、从
These prepositions introduce direction or starting point before the verb.
- 往 (wǎng) = toward (a destination/direction), used with movement verbs
- 向 (xiàng) = toward/facing (can also mean 'to' when directing speech/action at someone)
- 从 (cóng) = from (starting point of movement or time)
Structure: Subject + 往/向/从 + place + verb
✅ 往左走。(Go left.)
✅ 向老师问问题。(Ask the teacher a question.)
✅ 从家里出发。(Set out from home.)
往 vs 向: Both mean 'toward' but 往 focuses on destination direction; 向 can introduce recipient of speech/action.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你往前走，就能看到学校。 | Nǐ wǎng qián zǒu, jiù néng kàn dào xué xiào. | Walk straight ahead and you'll see the school. | 往 + direction word (前) + movement verb 走 |
| 他向老师说了对不起。 | Tā xiàng lǎo shī shuō le duì bù qǐ. | He said sorry to the teacher. | 向 introduces the recipient of the verbal action (apology directed at teacher) |
| 我每天从家里走路去学校。 | Wǒ měi tiān cóng jiā lǐ zǒu lù qù xué xiào. | I walk to school from home every day. | 从 marks the starting point of the journey |
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Directional Prepositions among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
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