朝朝 cháo shows which way something faces or moves, while 沿著沿着 yánzhe shows movement along a path. Both sound a bit more formal and literary than 往往 wǎng or 向向 xiàng.
Think of 朝朝 cháo as “facing / towards” and 沿著沿着 yánzhe as “along.” 朝朝 cháo points at a direction or a target; 沿著沿着 yánzhe follows a road, a river, or a line.
1朝朝 cháo
朝朝 cháo shows a direction or orientation: “towards,” “facing.” It’s often used in more formal or literary contexts.
朝朝 cháo + direction + V
大門朝南開大门朝南开
The main entrance faces south.
他朝我這邊看了一下他朝我这边看了一下
He glanced over in my direction.
穆斯林們朝麥加的方向朝拜穆斯林们朝麦加的方向朝拜
Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.
颱風正朝著福建的方向移動台风正朝着福建的方向移动
The typhoon is moving towards Fujian.
從我家朝外看，可以看到台北101从我家朝外看，可以看到台北101
Looking out from my home, you can see Taipei 101.
🏮 Culture Note: 台北101台北101 Táiběi 101
Taipei 101
The observatory
At Taipei 101, you can ride one of the world’s fastest elevators up to the observation deck on the 89th floor. From there, you get stunning views of Taipei’s cityscape, the mountains, and the sparkling water.
Taipei 101
When it was completed in 2004, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world, with 101 floors and a height of 508 meters (1,667 feet). The number “101” was chosen to symbolize Taipei’s significance and prominence on the global stage.
The view from Taipei 101
朝朝 cháo + target + concrete verb
朝朝 cháo can also point at a target, but only with physical, visible actions like looking, throwing, shouting, or hitting.
事情已經發生了，你朝我大吼也沒用事情已经发生了，你朝我大吼也没用
It’s already happened. Yelling at me won’t help.
森林大火逐漸朝都市燒過來森林大火逐渐朝都市烧过来
The forest fire is gradually spreading towards the city.
爺爺朝我丟了一顆糖爷爷朝我丢了一颗糖
Grandpa tossed me a piece of candy.
我朝那個混蛋揍了一拳我朝那个混蛋揍了一拳
I punched that jerk.
📌 朝朝 cháo vs. 向向 xiàng
Both can point at a target with a concrete action, so these two mean the same:
你朝我大吼也沒用你朝我大吼也没用
Yelling at me won’t help.
你向我大吼也沒用你向我大吼也没用
Yelling at me won’t help. (same meaning)
But with abstract actions like thanking, apologizing, or learning, only 向向 xiàng works:
我應該向他道歉我应该向他道歉
I should apologize to him.
💡 FYI
朝朝 is a polyphone. Meaning “towards” or “facing,” it’s read cháo. Meaning “morning,” it’s read zhāo, as in 朝氣朝气 zhāoqì (“vigor, youthful energy”).
2沿著沿着 yánzhe
沿著沿着 yánzhe means “along”: the action follows a road, a river, a coastline, or a line. In more formal writing, 著着 zhe is often dropped and you’ll just see 沿沿 yán.
沿著沿着 yánzhe + path + V
沿著這條路一直走，就能到海邊沿着这条路一直走，就能到海边
Follow this road straight ahead and you’ll reach the beach.
週末我們常沿著淡水河騎腳踏車周末我们常沿着淡水河骑自行车
On weekends we often cycle along the Tamsui River.
沿著海岸線開車，風景非常美沿着海岸线开车，风景非常美
The scenery is gorgeous when you drive along the coastline.
請沿著虛線剪下來请沿着虚线剪下来
Please cut along the dotted line.
沿路沿路 yánlù / 沿途沿途 yántú: “along the way”
這趟旅行沿途的風景讓人難忘这趟旅行沿途的风景让人难忘
The scenery along the way on this trip was unforgettable.
3Common Mistakes
❌我還沒朝她道謝我还没朝她道谢
✅我還沒向她道謝我还没向她道谢
“I haven’t thanked her yet.” Thanking is an abstract action, so only 向向 xiàng can mark the target. 朝朝 cháo is for physical actions.
❌我沿著他走我沿着他走
✅我跟著他走我跟着他走
沿著沿着 yánzhe needs a path (a road, a river, a line), not a person. To follow a person, use 跟著跟着 gēnzhe.
4Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01The boss yelled at me and told me never to come back.
老闆朝我大喊，要我永遠別想回來老板朝我大喊，要我永远别想回来。
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02The window of this room faces east.
這個房間的窗戶朝東这个房间的窗户朝东。
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03The puppy ran towards me, wagging its tail.
小狗搖著尾巴朝我跑過來小狗摇着尾巴朝我跑过来。
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04She smiled at me.
她朝我笑了笑她朝我笑了笑。
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05The car drove off towards the airport.
車子朝機場的方向開走了车子朝机场的方向开走了。
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06Walk along this street and you’ll see the station.
