Giving Directions – cóng…wǎng…

Grammar Point:
The Chinese grammar pattern 從从 cóng…往 wǎng… is used to describe movement or direction. It is commonly used to explain the starting point and the direction of an action, especially in describing physical movement.

Structure

從从 cóng + starting point + 往 wǎng + direction + V

從cóng學校xuéxiào往wǎng東dōng走zǒu， 你nǐ會huì看到kàndào一個yíge公園gōngyuán从cóng学校xuéxiào往wǎng东dōng走zǒu， 你nǐ会huì看到kàndào一个yíge公园gōngyuán
From the school, walk east, and you will see a park.

從cóng這裡zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ轉zhuǎn就是jiùshì餐廳cāntīng从cóng这里zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ拐guǎi就是jiùshì餐厅cāntīng
From here, turn left, and you’ll reach the restaurant.

從cóng車站chēzhàn往wǎng南nán走zǒu大概dàgài十shí分鐘fēnzhōng就jiù到dào了le从cóng车站chēzhàn往wǎng南nán走zǒu大概dàgài十shí分钟fēnzhōng就jiù到dào了le
Walk south from the station for about ten minutes, and you’ll arrive.

從cóng山頂shāndǐng往wǎng下xià看kàn， 景色jǐngsè特別tèbié美měi从cóng山顶shāndǐng往wǎng下xià看kàn， 景色jǐngsè特别tèbié美měi
Looking down from the top of the mountain, the view is stunning.

從cóng咖啡店kāfēidiàn往wǎng對面duìmiàn走zǒu， 就是jiùshì超市chāoshì从cóng咖啡店kāfēidiàn往wǎng对面duìmiàn走zǒu， 就是jiùshì超市chāoshì
From the coffee shop, walk across the street, and you’ll find the supermarket.

Actually, this can also be applied to abstract concepts.

從cóng我wǒ這裡zhèlǐ往wǎng你nǐ心裡xīnlǐ要yào走zǒu幾jǐ步bù？ 从cóng我wǒ这里zhèlǐ往wǎng你nǐ心里xīnlǐ要yào走zǒu几jǐ步bù？ ❤️
How many steps does it take to go from me to your heart?

我們wǒmen的de努力nǔlì正zhèng從cóng夢想mèngxiǎng往wǎng現實xiànshí前進qiánjìn我们wǒmen的de努力nǔlì正zhèng从cóng夢想mèngxiǎng往wǎng现实xiànshí前进qiánjìn
Our efforts are moving from dreams toward reality.

Direction Words Commonly Used:

• 東dōng东dōng: east
• 西xī西xī: west
• 南nán南nán: south
• 北běi北běi: north
• 左zuǒ左zuǒ: left
• 右yòu右yòu: right
• 前qián前qián: straight
• 後hòu后hòu: back

Differences Between 往 wǎng and 到 dào

往 wǎng emphasizes the direction of movement, so it is followed by a direction word. 到 dào emphasizes the final destination, so it is followed by a place or time word.

從cóng山頂shāndǐng往wǎng下xià看kàn， 景色jǐngsè特別tèbié美měi从cóng山顶shāndǐng往wǎng下xià看kàn， 景色jǐngsè特别tèbié美měi
Looking down from the top of the mountain, the view is stunning.

我們wǒmen從cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shíèryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò我们wǒmen从cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shíèryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò
We work from January to December.

從cóng這裡zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ轉zhuǎn就是jiùshì餐廳cāntīng从cóng这里zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ拐guǎi就是jiùshì餐厅cāntīng
From here, turn left, and you’ll reach the restaurant.

我wǒ從cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào學校xuéxiào我wǒ从cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào学校xuéxiào
I walk from home to school.