向 xiàng — direction; part; side; towards; to; guide
请向前走两百米。Qǐng xiàng qián zǒu liǎng bǎi mǐ.Please walk forward two hundred meters.
Common words: 方向 (fāng xiàng)、向前 (xiàng qián)、一向 (yī xiàng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "towards"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "towards", including 向 (xiàng), 望 (wàng), 往 (wǎng / wàng), 朝 (cháo / zhāo), 奔 (bēn / bèn). Study pinyin…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "towards" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 向 (xiàng), 望 (wàng), 往 (wǎng / wàng), 朝 (cháo / zhāo), 奔 (bēn / bèn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiàng, wàng, wǎng, cháo, zhāo, bēn, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 向 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 向 xiàngdirection; part; side; towards; to; guideUseful words: 方向, 向前
- 望 wànghope; expect; to visit; to gaze (into the distance); look towards; towardsUseful words: 希望, 愿望
- 往 wǎng / wàngto go (in a direction); past; previous; towards; toward; (of a train) bound forUseful words: 前往, 交往
- 朝 cháo / zhāoto face; towards; facing; direct; a dynasty; the imperial courtUseful words: 朝代, 朝气蓬勃
- 奔 bēn / bènto hurry or rush; to run quickly; to elope; go to; towardsUseful words: 奔驰, 奔跑
Common words for these 5 "towards" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 向 (xiàng) — so "towards" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
方向fāng xiàngdirection; orientation向前xiàng qiánforward; onward一向yī xiànga period of time in the recent past; (indicating a period of time up to the present) all along; the whole time希望xī wàngto hope; a hope; a wish愿望yuàn wàngdesire; wish失望shī wàngdisappointed; to lose hope; to despair前往qián wǎngto leave for; to proceed towards; to go to交往jiāo wǎngto associate (with); to have contact (with); to hang out (with); to date往往wǎng wǎngusually; in many cases; more often than not朝代cháo dàidynasty; reign (of a king)
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "towards".
望 wàng — hope; expect; to visit; to gaze (into the distance); look towards; towards
我希望明天是个好天气。Wǒ xī wàng míng tiān shì ge hǎo tiān qì.I hope tomorrow will be good weather.
Common words: 希望 (xī wàng)、愿望 (yuàn wàng)、失望 (shī wàng)
往 wǎng / wàng — to go (in a direction); past; previous; towards; toward; (of a train) bound for
这趟火车开往上海。Zhè tàng huǒ chē kāi wǎng Shàng hǎi.This train is heading to Shanghai.
Common words: 前往 (qián wǎng)、交往 (jiāo wǎng)、往往 (wǎng wǎng)
朝 cháo / zhāo — to face; towards; facing; direct; a dynasty; the imperial court
我们的房子朝南。Wǒ men de fáng zi cháo nán.Our house faces south.
Common words: 朝代 (cháo dài)、朝气蓬勃 (zhāo qì péng bó)、朝着 (cháo zhe)
奔 bēn / bèn — to hurry or rush; to run quickly; to elope; go to; towards
听到铃声，孩子们向操场奔去。Tīng dào líng shēng, hái zi men xiàng cāo chǎng bēn qù.Hearing the bell, the children ran toward the playground.
Common words: 奔驰 (bēn chí)、奔跑 (bēn pǎo)、奔波 (bēn bō)
All 5 characters
Open 向、望、往 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.