向

• Pinyin: xiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 向 = pictograph of a house with a window, originally meaning 'window/direction'

Meaning

Toward; in the direction of. Used to indicate direction or the target of an action.

As a preposition, 向 indicates direction or the recipient of an action: 向前走 (walk forward), 向他学习 (learn from him), 向老师提问 (ask the teacher a question). Also used as a verb meaning 'to face': 窗户向南 (the window faces south). Very common in giving directions and describing orientations.

Examples

1. 请向前走一百米。 Please walk forward one hundred metres.
2. 你应该向老师请假。 You should ask the teacher for leave.
3. 这个房间的窗户向南。 The window of this room faces south.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, requests, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 向左转就到了。(Turn left and you'll be there.)
• 我要向你道歉。(I want to apologise to you.)

Don't Say

• 混淆向和往 (Don't confuse 向 with 往 — both mean 'toward,' but 向 emphasises the direction of facing or addressing someone, while 往 emphasises movement along a path)

Origin & History

向 originally depicted a window in a wall facing a certain direction. The character evolved from 'window' to 'direction' and then to the preposition 'toward.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal