向 xiàng, 往 wǎng, and 從/从 cóng in Chinese

Grammar Point:
All three of these, 向 xiàng, 往 wǎng, and 從从 cóng can be used to indicate direction or position in Chinese. However, they have slightly different nuances and usages:

向 xiàng

It is used to indicate a specific direction or the target of an action. It can also be used to express “towards” or “to.”

向 + Direction + Verb

向xiàng前qián走zǒu向xiàng前qián走zǒu
Go forward.

向xiàng左zuǒ轉zhuǎn向xiàng左zuǒ拐guǎi
Turn left.

她tā向xiàng公園gōngyuán走zǒu去qù她tā向xiàng公园gōngyuán走zǒu去qù
She walks towards the park.

請qǐng你nǐ向xiàng下xià看kàn， 我wǒ在zài下面xiàmiàn请qǐng你nǐ向xiàng下xià看kàn， 我wǒ在zài下面xiàmian
Please look down, I am below.

V + 向 + Direction or Someone

孩子háizi跑pǎo向xiàng母親mǔqīn孩子háizi跑pǎo向xiàng母亲mǔqīn
The child runs towards the mother.

讓ràng我們wǒmen一起yìqǐ走zǒu向xiàng美好měihǎo的de未來wèilái让ràng我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ走zǒu向xiàng美好měihǎo的de未来wèilái
Let’s walk together towards a better future.

這zhè些xiē水shuǐ最後zuìhòu都dōu會huì流liú向xiàng東邊dōngbiān的de大海dàhǎi这zhè些xiē水shuǐ最后zuìhòu都dōu会huì流liú向xiàng东边儿dōngbiānr的de大海dàhǎi
All this water will eventually flow into the sea to the east.

你nǐ看kàn向xiàng西邊xībiān， 那邊nàbiān那nà條tiáo河hé就是jiùshì淡水河Dànshuǐhé你nǐ看kàn向xiàng西边儿xībiānr， 那边nàbian那nà条tiáo河hé就是jiùshì淡水河Dànshuǐhé
Look to the west, and you’ll see the Tamsui River.

Tamsui River

Today, the Tamsui River remains a vital water resource and an integral part of the local ecosystem. It has also become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike due to its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. The riverside promenades and parks offer a pleasant environment for walking, cycling, and picnicking while enjoying views of the river and the surrounding landscape.

Near the river’s mouth, you can find the historic district of Tamsui, known for its charming old streets, local markets, and colonial-era buildings. Tamsui is a favorite spot for visitors to experience Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and savor delicious local delicacies while overlooking the river.

Tamsui Lover Bridge

This romantic pedestrian bridge is a popular destination for couples and visitors seeking a beautiful spot to enjoy breathtaking views and sunsets.

往 wǎng

It is used to indicate the general direction of movement or the destination. It is often used interchangeably with 向 xiàng in the first structure.

往 + Direction + Verb

往wǎng前qián走zǒu往wǎng前qián走zǒu
Go forward.

往wǎng左zuǒ轉zhuǎn往wǎng左zuǒ转zhuǎn
Turn left.

她tā往wǎng公園gōngyuán走zǒu去qù她tā往wǎng公园gōngyuán走zǒu去qù
She walks towards the park.

請qǐng你nǐ往wǎng下xià看kàn， 我wǒ在zài下面xiàmiàn请qǐng你nǐ往wǎng下xià看kàn， 我wǒ在zài下面儿xiàmiànr
Please look down, I am below.

V + 往 + location

這zhè班bān飛機fēijī會huì飛fēi往wǎng加州jiāzhōu这zhè班bān飞机fēijī会huì飞fēi往wǎng加州jiāzhōu
This flight is flying to California.

你nǐ沿著yánzhe這zhè條tiáo路lù可以kěyǐ開kāi往wǎng溫哥華wēngēhuá你nǐ沿着yánzhe这zhè条tiáo路lù可以kěyǐ开kāi往wǎng温哥华wēngēhuá
You can drive along this road to Vancouver.

她tā慢慢地mànmànde走zǒu往wǎng醫院yīyuàn她tā慢慢地mànmānde走zǒu往wǎng医院yīyuàn
She slowly walks towards the hospital.

這zhè些xiē水shuǐ最後zuìhòu都dōu會huì流liú往wǎng海裡hǎilǐ这zhè些xiē水shuǐ最后zuìhòu都dōu会huì流liú往wǎng海里hǎilǐ
All this water will eventually flow into the sea.

從从 cóng

It is used to indicate the origin or starting point of movement, expressing “from” or “since.”

從从 + Time 1 + (到 + Time 2)

我wǒ從cóng8 號hào到dào11 號hào休假xiūjiǎ， 公司gōngsī有事yǒushì也yě不要búyào聯絡liánluò我wǒ我wǒ从cóng8 号hào到dào11 号hào休假xiūjiǎ， 公司gōngsī有事儿yǒushìr也yě不要búyào联络liánluò我wǒ
I will be on vacation from the 8th to the 11th, so please do not contact me even if there’s something urgent at the company.

台灣Táiwān國中生guózhōngshēng的de上課shàngkè時間shíjiān是shì從cóng早上zǎoshàng7 點diǎn半bàn到dào下午xiàwǔ5 點diǎn台湾Táiwān国中生guózhōngshēng的de上课shàngkè时间shíjiān是shì从cóng早上zǎoshàng7 点diǎn半bàn到dào下午xiàwǔ5 点diǎn
In Taiwan, junior high school students have classes from 7:30 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.

我wǒ從cóng2010 年nián就jiù一直yìzhí住zhù在zài高雄gāoxióng我wǒ从cóng2010 年nián就jiù一直yìzhí住zhù在zài高雄gāoxióng
I have been living in Kaohsiung since 2010.

他tā從cóng昨天zuótiān就jiù不bù舒服shūfú了le他tā从cóng昨天zuótiān就jiù不bù舒服shūfu了le
He has not been feeling well since yesterday.

從从 + Place 1 + 向/到/往 + Place 2

從cóng這裡zhèlǐ到dào捷運站jiéyùnzhàn要yào走zǒu多久duōjiǔ？ 从cóng这里zhèlǐ到dào捷运站jiéyùnzhàn要yào走zǒu多久duōjiǔ？
How long does it take to walk from here to the MRT station?

中文字zhōngwénzì從cóng左zuǒ往wǎng右yòu寫xiě中文字zhōngwénzì从cóng左zuǒ往wǎng右yòu写xiě
Chinese characters are written from left to right.

這zhè是shì從cóng台中Táizhōng往wǎng台南Táinán的de火車huǒchē这zhè是shì从cóng台中Táizhōng往wǎng台南Táinán的de火车huǒchē
This is a train from Taichung to Tainan.

從cóng我wǒ家jiā向xiàng外wài看kàn可以kěyǐ看kàn到dào台北101táiběi101从cóng我wǒ家jiā向xiàng外wài看kàn可以kěyǐ看kàn到dào台北101táiběi101
From my house, you can see Taipei 101 when looking outside.

Common Mistakes

他tā是不是shìbúshì往wǎng我wǒ眨zhǎ了le下xià眼yǎn？ x他tā是不是shìbúshì往wǎng我wǒ眨zhǎ了le下xià眼yǎn？ ❌
Did he wink at me?
(Only 向 xiàng can go with “target + verb”)

狗gǒu跑pǎo往wǎng我wǒ狗gǒu跑pǎo往wǎng我wǒ ❌
The dog is running towards me.
(Only 向 xiàng can go with “someone”)

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I have been working here since graduation.

我wǒ從cóng畢業bìyè後hòu一直yìzhí在zài這裡zhèlǐ工作gōngzuò我wǒ从cóng毕业bìyè后hòu一直yìzhí在zài这儿zhèr工作gōngzuò

✔️ When the boss asked me to go east, I went east, and I never complain.

老闆lǎobǎn要yào我wǒ往wǎng東dōng走zǒu，，我wǒ就jiù往wǎng東dōng走zǒu， 從不cóngbú抱怨bàoyuàn老板lǎobǎn要yào我wǒ往wǎng东dōng走zǒu，，我wǒ就jiù往wǎng东dōng走zǒu， 从不cóngbú抱怨bàoyuàn

✔️ But now, I’ve decided to resign and fly towards freedom.

但是dànshì現在xiànzài我wǒ決定juédìng要yào辭職cízhí， 飛fēi向xiàng自由zìyóu但是dànshì现在xiànzài我wǒ决定juédìng要yào辞职cízhí， 飞fēi向xiàng自由zìyóu

• Showing direction in Chinese 2 – 由 yóu, 朝 cháo, and 向 xiàng (HSK 3)