由 yóu, 朝 cháo, and 向 xiàng in Chinese

Grammar Point:
All three of these, 向 xiàng, 朝 cháo, and 由 yóu 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 + Specific Target + Concrete Verb

我的wǒde狗gǒu向xiàng我wǒ撒嬌sājiāo我的wǒde狗gǒu向xiàng我wǒ撒娇sājiāo
My dog cozies up to me.

請qǐng你nǐ向xiàng我wǒ仔細zixì說明shuōmíng情況qíngkuàng请qǐng你nǐ向xiàng我wǒ仔细zixì说明shuōmíng情况qíngkuàng
Please explain the situation to me in detail.

事情shìqíng已經yǐjīng發生fāshēng了le， 你nǐ向xiàng我wǒ大吼dàhǒu也yě沒用méiyòng事情shìqing已经yǐjīng发生fāshēng了le， 你nǐ向xiàng我wǒ大吼dàhǒu也yě没用méiyòng
It has already happened, and yelling at me won’t help.

孩子háizi向xiàng媽媽māma吵chǎo著zhe要yào吃chī糖táng孩子háizi向xiàng妈妈māma吵chǎo着zhe要yào吃chī糖táng
The child is arguing with his mom to get some candy.

向 + Specific Target + Abstract Verb

我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi向xiàng他tā道歉dàoqiàn我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi向xiàng他tā道歉dàoqiàn
We should apologize to him.

學生xuéshēng向xiàng老師lǎoshī問好wènhǎo学生xuésheng向xiàng老师lǎoshī问好wènhǎo
The student greets the teacher.

你nǐ應該yīnggāi多duō向xiàng前輩qiánbèi請教qǐngjiào你nǐ应该yīnggāi多duō向xiàng前辈qiánbèi请教qǐngjiào
You should seek advice from seniors more.

我wǒ要yào多duō向xiàng貓māo學習xuéxí， 跟gēn貓māo一樣yíyàng不bú在意zàiyì別人biérén的de眼光yǎnguāng我wǒ要yào多duō向xiàng猫māo学习xuéxí， 跟gēn猫māo一样yíyàng不bú在意zàiyì别人biérén的de眼光yǎnguāng
I want to learn more from cats and be just like them, not caring about other people’s opinions.

朝 cháo

It is used to indicate a direction or orientation. It can also express “towards” or “to.” This preposition is often used in a more formal or literary context.

朝 + Direction + Verb

大門dàmén朝cháo南nán開kāi大门dàmén朝cháo南nán开kāi
The main entrance faces south.

他tā朝cháo我wǒ這邊zhèbiān看kàn了le一下yíxià他tā朝cháo我wǒ这儿zhèr看kàn了le一会儿yìhuǐr
He looked in my direction for a while.

穆斯林mùsīlín們men朝cháo麥加màijiā的de方向fāngxiàng朝拜cháobài穆斯林mùsīlín们men朝cháo麦加màijiā的de方向fāngxiàng朝拜cháobài
Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.

颱風táifēng正zhèng朝cháo著zhe福建fújiàn的de方向fāngxiàng移動yídòng台风táifēng正zhèng朝cháo着zhe福建fújiàn的de方向fāngxiàng移动yídòng
The typhoon is moving in the direction of Fujian.

朝 + Specific Target + Concrete Verb

事情shìqíng已經yǐjīng發生fāshēng了le， 你nǐ朝cháo我wǒ大吼dàhǒu也yě沒用méiyòng事情shìqing已经yǐjīng发生fāshēng了le， 你nǐ朝cháo我wǒ大吼dàhǒu也yě没用méiyòng
It has already happened, and yelling at me won’t help.

森林sēnlín大火dàhuǒ逐漸zhújiàn朝cháo都市dōushì燒shāo過來guòlái森林sēnlín大火dàhuǒ逐渐zhújiàn朝cháo都市dōushì烧shāo过来guòlái
The forest fire is gradually spreading towards the city.

爺爺yéye朝cháo我wǒ丟diū了le一yì顆kē糖táng爷爷yéye朝cháo我wǒ丢diū了le一yì颗kē糖táng
Grandpa threw a candy at me.

我wǒ朝cháo那個nàge混蛋hùndàn揍zòu了le一yì拳quán我wǒ朝cháo那个nàge混蛋hùndàn揍zòu了le一yì拳quán
I punched that jerk.

由 yóu

It is used to indicate the origin or starting point of movement, expressing “from” or “since.” It is often used in a more formal or literary context.

由 + Place 1 + 向/到/往/朝 + Place 2

由yóu上shàng到dào下xià， 由yóu左zuǒ到dào右yòu由yóu上shàng到dào下xià， 由yóu左zuǒ到dào右yòu
From top to bottom, from left to right.

這zhè路lù公車gōngchē由yóu故宮gùgōng出發chūfā这zhè路lù公交车gōngjiāochē由yóu故宫gùgōng出发chūfā
This bus departs from the Palace Museum.

我們wǒmen由yóu公司gōngsī的de後門hòumén進入jìnrù我们wǒmen由yóu公司gōngsī的de后门hòumén进入jìnrù
We enter through the back door of the company.

由yóu我wǒ家jiā朝cháo外wài看kàn可以kěyǐ看kàn到dào台北101táiběi101由yóu我wǒ家jiā朝cháo外wài看kàn可以kěyǐ看kàn到dào台北101táiběi101
From my home, looking outside, you can see Taipei 101.

Taipei 101

When it was completed in 2004, Taipei 101 held the title of the tallest building in the world, standing at 101 floors and reaching a height of 508 meters (1,667 feet). The number “101” was chosen to symbolize the building’s association with Taipei, showcasing the city’s significance and prominence on the global stage.

Taipei 101

In Taipei 101, you can take a thrilling ride in one of the world’s fastest elevators, which will whisk you up to the observation deck on the 89th floor. From here, get ready to be amazed by stunning views of Taipei’s cityscape, mountains, and sparkling waters.

Common Mistakes

我wǒ還沒háiméi朝cháo她tā道謝dàoxiè我wǒ还没háiméi朝cháo她tā道谢dàoxiè ❌
I haven’t thanked her yet.
(Only 向 xiàng can go with “target + verb”)

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I resigned from my boss.

我wǒ向xiàng老闆lǎobǎn請辭qǐngcí我wǒ向xiàng老板lǎobǎn请辞qǐngcí

✔️ The boss yelled at me, telling me never to come back again.

老闆lǎobǎn朝cháo我wǒ大喊dàhǎn， 要yào我wǒ永遠yǒngyuǎn別bié想xiǎng回來huílái老板lǎobǎn朝cháo我wǒ大喊dàhǎn， 要yào我wǒ永远yǒngyuǎn别bié想xiǎng回来huílái

✔️ After leaving the company, my quality of life has improved a lot.

由yóu公司gōngsī離職lízhí後hòu， 我的wǒde生活shēnghuó品質pǐnzhì變biàn得de很好hěnhǎo由yóu公司gōngsī离职lízhí后hòu， 我的wǒde生活shēnghuó品质pǐnzhí变biàn得de很好hěnhǎo

• Showing direction in Chinese 1 – 向 xiàng, 往 wǎng, and 從从 cóng (HSK 2)