Comparing "chao" "xiang" and "wang"

All three of these, 朝 (cháo), 向 (xiàng), and 往 (wǎng) can be used to indicate direction or position. When these preposition phrases are used before a verb, the three have the same structure and their meaning is the same. Although they are often interchangeable, there are also cases when they are not.

When 朝, 向, and 往 Are All Appropriate

Structure

Just put one of the three before the direction and the verb!

向 / 朝 / 往 + Direction + Verb

Examples

The three are interchangeable in these types of "purely directional" usage.

• 从 这里 向 / 朝 / 往 北 走 两 百 米 就 到 了。Cóng zhèlǐ xiàng/ cháo/ wǎng běi zǒu liǎng bǎi mǐ jiù dào le.From here, go one hundred meters north, and you'll get there.
• 这 个 小 女孩 向 左 看看 又 向 右 看看 才 过 马路。Zhège xiǎo nǚhái xiàng zuǒ kànkan yòu xiàng yòu kànkan cái guò mǎlù.This little girl looked left and then looked right before crossing the street.
• 我 看见 他 朝 你们 家 去 了。Wǒ kànjiàn tā cháo nǐmen jiā qù le.I saw him going towards your house.
• 往 前 走 十 分 钟。Wǎng qián zǒu shí fēnzhōng.Walk forward for ten minutes.

When to Use 向 and 往

向 and 往 can sometimes be placed after a verb, however not just any verb will do. Oft-used verbs are 开, 飞, 发, 运, 送, 寄, 带, 驶 etc. As you can see, these are words that imply some sort of motion. In addition, compared to 向, 往 is used more often with those verbs, because 往 indicates the destination while 向 merely expresses a direction,. 朝 is not used this way.

Structure

Verb + 向 / 往 + Direction

Examples

• 这 趟 火车 开往 沈阳。Zhè tàng huǒchē kāiwǎng Shěnyáng.This train is heading towards Shenyang.
• 这 趟 航班 飞往 纽约。Zhè tàng hángbān fēiwǎng Niǔyuē.This plane is bound for New York.
• 一 辆 黑色 的 小 轿车 慢慢 地 从 东 驶向 西。Yī liàng hēisè de xiǎo jiàochē mànmàn de cóng dōng shǐxiàng xī.A small black sedan slowly drove from east to west.
• 像 鸟儿 一样 飞向 蓝天。Xiàng niǎoér yīyàng fēixiàng lántiān.Like a bird, it flew into the blue yonder.

When to Use "向" and "朝"

When a concrete action has a specific target (not a destination), use 向 or 朝. 往 cannot be used this way.

Structure

向 / 朝 + Target + Concrete Verb

Examples

• 他 向 / 朝 我 笑 了 笑。Tā xiàng / cháo wǒ xiào le xiào.He chuckled at me.
• 我 朝 他 开 了 一 枪。Wǒ cháo tā kāi le yī qiāng.I took a shot at him.
• 他 已经 向 全体 员工 解释 过 了。Tā yǐjīng xiàng quántǐ yuángōng jiěshì guo le.He has already explained it to all the employees.

When Only "向" Is Correct

When a verb and or the target of the verb is abstract, you can only use 向 to indicate the target, and cannot use 朝.

Structure

向 + Target + Abstract Verb

Examples

• 他 是 优秀 员工，我们 都 要 向 他 学习。 Tā shì yōuxiù yuángōng, wǒmen dōu yào xiàng tā xuéxí.He is an exemplary employee, we should all learn from him.
• 我们 要 向 环保 部门 要求 严查 工厂 排污。Wǒmen yào xiàng huánbǎo bùmén yāoqiú yán chá gōngchǎng páiwū.We are going to demand that the Environmental Safety Department closely inspect the factory's sewage.

Common Mistakes

• 这 个 地铁 是 开朝 浦东 机场 的 吗 ？Zhège dìtiě shì kāicháo Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?
• 这 个 地铁 是 开往 浦东 机场 的 吗 ？Zhège dìtiě shì kāiwǎng Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?Is this subway heading towards Pudong Airport?
• 你 要 多 往 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō wǎng Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.
• 你 要 多 朝 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō cháo Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.
• 你 要 多 向 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō xiàng tā xuéxí xuéxí.You need to go to him to learn.
• 帅哥 往 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē wǎng wǒ xiào le yīxià.When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.
• 帅哥 朝 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē cháo wǒ xiào le yīxià.When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.
• 帅哥 向 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē xiàng wǒ xiào le yīxià.The cute guy smiled at me.

Example dialog

• A: 他 往 南 走 了 。A: Tā wǎng nán zǒu le.He walked south.
• B: 笨蛋 ！ 你 怎么 让 他 往 南 走 呢 ？南边 很 危险 ！B: Bèndàn! Nǐ zěnme ràng tā wǎng nán zǒu ne? Nánbiān hěn wēixiǎn!Idiot! Why did you let him go south? Going south is dangerous!
• A: 你 朝 我 发 什么 火 ？我 说 了 他 不 听 。A: Nǐ cháo wǒ fā shénme huǒ? Wǒ shuō le tā bù tīng.Why are you getting mad at me? I told him but he didn't listen
• B: 不好意思 ，我 应该 向 你 道歉 。B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yīnggāi xiàng nǐ dàoqiàn.I'm sorry. I should apologize to you.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 196) [ →buy]
• 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 79, 505) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

HSK5