Sentence pattern · Band 3
向 and 往: heading somewhere
向/往 + 方向 + 动词
往 and 向 both aim the action at a direction or a target: walk toward the front, learn from him. The little word rides in front, the verb follows. 往 leans physical, toward a place; 向 works at people and purposes too. Think of an arrow: 往 or 向 is the shaft pointing, and the verb is the flight.
Hear it in a sentence
Mistakes people make
The direction phrase rides before the verb; English puts toward the station after walking, Mandarin does not.
Words in this pattern
Quick answers
What does 向、往：方向 mean?
往 and 向 both aim the action at a direction or a target: walk toward the front, learn from him. The little word rides in front, the verb follows. 往 leans physical, toward a place; 向 works at people and purposes too. Think of an arrow: 往 or 向 is the shaft pointing, and the verb is the flight.
How do you build it?
向/往 + 方向 + 动词
What is the most common mistake?
我们走往车站。 → 我们往车站走。
The direction phrase rides before the verb; English puts toward the station after walking, Mandarin does not.
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