Table of Contents

Grammar Point

從从 cóng … 往 wǎng …: Giving Directions

Use 從 cóng从 cóng…往 wǎng… to give directions: 從 cóng从 cóng tells you where you start, and 往 wǎng tells you which way to go. “From the school, walk east.” “From here, turn left.”

一 Structure

从 + starting point + 往 + direction + Verb

The starting point goes after 從 cóng从 cóng, the direction goes after 往 wǎng, and the verb (walk, turn, look…) comes last.

从cóng学校xuéxiào往wǎng东dōng走zǒu，你nǐ会huì看到kàndào一yí个ge公园gōngyuán

From the school, walk east, and you’ll see a park.

从cóng这里zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ拐guǎi，就是jiùshì餐厅cāntīng

From here, turn left, and that’s the restaurant.

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 be there.

从cóng咖啡店kāfēidiàn往wǎng对面duìmiàn走zǒu，就是jiùshì超市chāoshì

From the coffee shop, cross over to the other side, and that’s the supermarket.

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.

The verb doesn’t have to be “walk.” It can be any action that has a direction, like looking.

Turn left: 转 or 拐?In Taiwan, “turn” is usually 轉 zhuǎn. In mainland China, people often say 拐 guǎi (转 zhuǎn works too).

二 Common Direction Words

These are the words you’ll most often see after 往 wǎng:

东dōng

east

西xī

west

南nán

south

北běi

north

左zuǒ

left

右yòu

right

前qián

forward / straight

后hòu

back

上shàng

下xià

down

从cóng路口lùkǒu往wǎng前qián走zǒu，就jiù会huì看到kàndào地铁站dìtiězhàn

From the intersection, go straight, and you’ll see the subway station.

往前走 wǎng qián zǒu means “go straight ahead.” It’s one of the most useful phrases for directions!

从cóng这里zhèlǐ往wǎng上shàng爬pá五wǔ分钟fēnzhōng就jiù到dào山顶shāndǐng了le

Climb up from here for five minutes, and you’ll reach the top.

三 Abstract Directions

從 cóng从 cóng…往 wǎng… can also be used for abstract movement, like moving toward a goal or toward someone’s heart.

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 get from me to your heart? ❤️

我们wǒmen的de努力nǔlì正zhèng从cóng梦想mèngxiǎng往wǎng现实xiànshí前进qiánjìn

Our hard work is moving us from dreams toward reality.

四往 vs. 到

往 wǎng tells you which way you’re heading. 到 dào tells you where you end up, so it’s followed by a place or a time.

往 · which way

从cóng学校xuéxiào往wǎng东dōng走zǒu

Walk toward the east. (Where you end up isn’t the point.)

到 · where you end up

我wǒ从cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào学校xuéxiào

I walk from home all the way to school.

从cóng这里zhèlǐ往wǎng左zuǒ拐guǎi，就是jiùshì餐厅cāntīng

From here, turn left, and that’s the restaurant.

Direction → 往.

我wǒ从cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào学校xuéxiào

I walk from home to school.

Destination → 到.

我们wǒmen从cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shí’èryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò

We work from January to December.

For a time range, always use 从 cóng…到 dào…, never 往.

五 Common Mistakes

❌ 我們wǒmen我们wǒmen從cóng从cóng一月yīyuè往wǎng十二月shí’èryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò

✅ 我們wǒmen我们wǒmen從cóng从cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shí’èryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò

December is an end point, not a direction. Use 到 dào for time ranges.

❌ 從cóng从cóng這裡zhèlǐ这里zhèlǐ走zǒu往wǎng東dōng东dōng

✅ 從cóng从cóng這裡zhèlǐ这里zhèlǐ往wǎng東dōng东dōng走zǒu

The 往 wǎng phrase goes before the verb, not after it.

❌ 往wǎng右yòu從cóng从cóng銀行yínháng银行yínháng轉zhuǎn拐guǎi

✅ 從cóng从cóng銀行yínháng银行yínháng往wǎng右yòu轉zhuǎn拐guǎi

Start with the starting point (從 cóng从 cóng), then the direction (往 wǎng), then the verb.

六 Practice

Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!

Question 1 of 10

“From the school, walk north, and you’ll see a hospital.”