Difference between revisions of "Expressing "towards" with "xiang""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
   
 
   
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向 (xiàng) is a preposition that means "towards," and is used often when expressing or referring to a certain point.  
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向 (xiàng) is a preposition that means "towards" and is used often with certain verbs. These usages need to be learned together with 向.
  
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== 向 as "towards" ==
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== Used as "Towards" ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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When used as a preposition, "向" indicates an action that is performed towards a reference point, but doesn't have any actual motion towards that point.  
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When used as a preposition, 向 indicates an action that is performed towards a reference point but doesn't have any actual motion towards that point.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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向 + [Direction Word] / Person + [Verb Phrase]
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向 + Direction / Person + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*<em>向</em> 东 走 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> dōng zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Walk towards east.</span>
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*<em>向</em> 东 走 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> dōng zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Walk to the east.</span>
 
*<em>向</em> 前 看 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> qián kàn.</span><span class="trans">Look forward.</span>
 
*<em>向</em> 前 看 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> qián kàn.</span><span class="trans">Look forward.</span>
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*<em>向</em> 左 转 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> zuǒ zhuǎn.</span><span class="trans">Turn left.</span>
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*<em>向</em> 左 转 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> zuǒ zhuǎn.</span><span class="trans">Turn to the left.</span>
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*老师 正 <em>向</em> 我们 走 来 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī zhèng <em>xiàng</em> wǒmen zǒu lái.</span><span class="trans">The teacher is walking up towards us.</span>
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*老师 正 <em>向</em> 我们 走 来 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī zhèng <em>xiàng</em> wǒmen zǒu lái.</span><span class="trans">The teacher is currently walking towards us.</span>
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*火车 已经 开 了 ，她 还在 <em>向</em> 我 招手 。<span class="pinyin">Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi le, tā hái zài <em>xiàng</em> wǒ zhāoshǒu.</span><span class="trans">The train already took off. She kept waving towards me.</span>
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*火车 已经 开 了 ，她 还 在 <em>向</em> 我 招手 。<span class="pinyin">Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi le, tā hái zài <em>xiàng</em> wǒ zhāoshǒu.</span><span class="trans">The train already departed. She kept waving at me.</span>
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</div>
 
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有时候"向"和宾语之间不是物理关系或空间关系，而是抽象意义的指向。
 
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A few examples:
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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*你 必须 <em>向</em> 他 道歉 ！<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìxū <em>xiàng</em> tā dàoqiàn!</span><span class="trans">You must apologize to him!</span>
 
*你 必须 <em>向</em> 他 道歉 ！<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìxū <em>xiàng</em> tā dàoqiàn!</span><span class="trans">You must apologize to him!</span>
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*这 件 事 你 应该 <em>向</em> 老板 汇报 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì nǐ yīnggāi <em>xiàng</em> lǎobǎn huìbào yīxià.</span><span class="trans">You should report this to the boss!</span>
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*这 件 事 你 应该 <em>向</em> 老板 汇报 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì nǐ yīnggāi <em>xiàng</em> lǎobǎn huìbào yīxià.</span><span class="trans">You should report this matter to the boss!</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 向 as "from" ==
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== Used as "From" ==
  
 
Whereas in English we would say "learn from someone," in Chinese this would be expressed as "learn toward someone," as in the following example (and famous propaganda slogan):
 
Whereas in English we would say "learn from someone," in Chinese this would be expressed as "learn toward someone," as in the following example (and famous propaganda slogan):
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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A few more examples:
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More examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*我 不 喜欢 <em>向</em> 朋友 借钱 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan <em>xiàng</em> péngyou jiè qián.</span><span class="trans">I don't like to borrow money to my friends.</span>
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*我 不 喜欢 <em>向</em> 朋友 借钱 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan <em>xiàng</em> péngyou jiè qián.</span><span class="trans">I don't like to borrow money from friends.</span>
 
*你 会 <em>向</em> 陌生人 求助 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ huì <em>xiàng</em> mòshēngrén qiúzhù ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you ask strangers for help?</span>
 
*你 会 <em>向</em> 陌生人 求助 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ huì <em>xiàng</em> mòshēngrén qiúzhù ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you ask strangers for help?</span>
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*我们 都 没 经验 ，是 来 <em>向</em> 你 请教 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, lái <em>xiàng</em> nǐ qǐngjiào de.</span><span class="trans">None of us have experience. We're here to ask you for advice.</span>
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*我们 都 没 经验 ，是 来 <em>向</em> 你 请教 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, shì lái <em>xiàng</em> nǐ qǐngjiào de.</span><span class="trans">None of us has experience. We're here to ask you for advice.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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*[[Using "dui"]]
 
*[[Using "dui"]]
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*[[Expressing "toward" with "wang"]]
 
*[[Expressing "with" with "gen"]]
 
*[[Expressing "with" with "gen"]]
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|84}}
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* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 214) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|214}}
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* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp. 77) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
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{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)|77}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 
[[Category:Prepositions]]
 
[[Category:Prepositions]]
 
{{Similar|Expressing "with" with "gen"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "with" with "gen"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "toward" with "wang"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "toward" with "wang"}}
 
{{Translation|towards}}
 
{{Translation|towards}}
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{{Basic Grammar|向|B1|向 + [Direction Word] / [Person] + Verb|你 需要 <em>向</em> 他 道歉。|grammar point|ASGQXARS}}
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{{Translation|from}}
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{{Basic Grammar|向|B1|向 + Direction / Person + Verb|你 必须 <em>向</em> 他 道歉！|grammar point|ASGQXARS}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}

Latest revision as of 07:35, 19 April 2019

向 (xiàng) is a preposition that means "towards" and is used often with certain verbs. These usages need to be learned together with 向.

Used as "Towards"

Structure

When used as a preposition, 向 indicates an action that is performed towards a reference point but doesn't have any actual motion towards that point.

向 + Direction / Person + Verb

Examples

  • 向 东 走 。Xiàng dōng zǒu.Walk to the east.
  • 向 前 看 。Xiàng qián kàn.Look forward.
  • 向 左 转 。Xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn.Turn to the left.
  • 老师 正 向 我们 走 来 。Lǎoshī zhèng xiàng wǒmen zǒu lái.The teacher is currently walking towards us.
  • 火车 已经 开 了 ，她 还 在 向 我 招手 。Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi le, tā hái zài xiàng wǒ zhāoshǒu.The train already departed. She kept waving at me.
  • 你 必须 向 他 道歉 ！Nǐ bìxū xiàng tā dàoqiàn!You must apologize to him!
  • 这 件 事 你 应该 向 老板 汇报 一下 。Zhè jiàn shì nǐ yīnggāi xiàng lǎobǎn huìbào yīxià.You should report this matter to the boss!

Used as "From"

Whereas in English we would say "learn from someone," in Chinese this would be expressed as "learn toward someone," as in the following example (and famous propaganda slogan):

  • 向 雷锋 同志 学习 ！Xiàng Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí!Learn from Comrade Lei Feng!

More examples:

  • 我 不 喜欢 向 朋友 借钱 。Wǒ bù xǐhuan xiàng péngyou jiè qián.I don't like to borrow money from friends.
  • 你 会 向 陌生人 求助 吗 ？Nǐ huì xiàng mòshēngrén qiúzhù ma?Would you ask strangers for help?
  • 我们 都 没 经验 ，是 来 向 你 请教 的 。Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, shì lái xiàng nǐ qǐngjiào de.None of us has experience. We're here to ask you for advice.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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