Difference between revisions of "Comparing "chao" "xiang" and "wang""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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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.
  
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. You can often swap them in and out. At other times, however, they are used differently, and this article will help you differentiate when you are supposed to use which one.
+
== When 朝, 向, and 往 Are All Appropriate ==
 
 
== When using "朝," "向," and "" is appropriate==
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
向 / 朝 / 往 + Direction + Verb
向 / 朝 / 往 + 具体方向 + Verb
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
The three are interchangeable in these types of "purely directional" usage.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 从 这里 <em>向</em> / <em>朝</em> / <em>往</em> 北 走 两 百 米 就 到 了。<span class="pinyin">Cóng zhèlǐ <em>xiàng</em>/ <em>cháo</em>/ <em>wǎng</em> běi zǒu liǎng bǎi mǐ jiù dào le.</span><span class="trans">From here, go one hundred meters north, and you'll get there.</span>
 
* 从 这里 <em>向</em> / <em>朝</em> / <em>往</em> 北 走 两 百 米 就 到 了。<span class="pinyin">Cóng zhèlǐ <em>xiàng</em>/ <em>cháo</em>/ <em>wǎng</em> běi zǒu liǎng bǎi mǐ jiù dào le.</span><span class="trans">From here, go one hundred meters north, and you'll get there.</span>
* 这 个 小 女孩 <em>向</em> 左 看看 又 向 右 看看 才 过 马路。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè xiǎo nǚhái <em>xiàng</em> zuǒ kàn kàn yòu xiàng yòu kàn kàn cáiguò mǎlù.</span><span class="trans">This little girl looked left and then looked right before crossing the street.</span>
+
* 这 个 小 女孩 <em>向</em> 左 看看 又 <em></em> 右 看看 才 过 马路。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xiǎo nǚhái <em>xiàng</em> zuǒ kànkan yòu <em>xiàng</em> yòu kànkan cái guò mǎlù.</span><span class="trans">This little girl looked left and then looked right before crossing the street.</span>
 
* 我 看见 他 <em>朝</em> 你们 家 去 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kànjiàn tā <em>cháo</em> nǐmen jiā qù le.</span><span class="trans">I saw him going towards your house.</span>
 
* 我 看见 他 <em>朝</em> 你们 家 去 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kànjiàn tā <em>cháo</em> nǐmen jiā qù le.</span><span class="trans">I saw him going towards your house.</span>
 
* <em>往</em> 前 走 十 分 钟。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǎng</em> qián zǒu shí fēnzhōng.</span><span class="trans">Walk forward for ten minutes.</span>
 
* <em>往</em> 前 走 十 分 钟。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǎng</em> qián zǒu shí fēnzhōng.</span><span class="trans">Walk forward for ten minutes.</span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== When to use "" and "" ==
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== When to Use 向 and 往 ==
  
向 and 往 can be placed after the verb, however it has to be used with an appropriate verb, Often used verbs are 开, 飞, 发, 运, 送, 寄, 带, 驶 etc. As you can see, these are words that at least imply some sort of motion. In addition, compared to 向, 往 is used more often with those verbs, because 往 expresses the destination while 向 merely expresses a direction, 朝 cannot be used this way.
+
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,. is not used this way.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Verb + 向 / 往 + 具体方向
+
Verb + 向 / 往 + Direction
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 这 趟 火车 开 <em>往</em> 沈阳。<span class="pinyin">Zhè tàng huǒchē kāi <em>wǎng</em> Shěnyáng.</span><span class="trans">This train is heading towards Shenyang.</span>
+
* 这 趟 火车 <strong></strong><em>往</em> 沈阳。<span class="pinyin">Zhè tàng huǒchē <strong>kāi</strong><em>wǎng</em> Shěnyáng.</span><span class="trans">This train is heading towards Shenyang.</span>
* 这 趟 航班 飞 <em>往</em> 纽约。<span class="pinyin">Zhè tàng hángbān fēi <em>wǎng</em> Niǔyuē.</span><span class="trans">This plane is flying to New York.</span>
+
* 这 趟 航班 <strong></strong><em>往</em> 纽约。<span class="pinyin">Zhè tàng hángbān <strong>fēi</strong><em>wǎng</em> Niǔyuē.</span><span class="trans">This plane is bound for New York.</span>
* 一 辆 黑 色 的 小 轿车 慢慢地 从 东 驶 <em>向</em> 西。<span class="pinyin">Yī liàng hēisè de xiǎo jiàochē màn man de cóng dōng shǐ <em>xiàng</em> xī.</span><span class="trans">The black limo slowly went from East to West.</span>
+
* 一 辆 黑色 的 小 轿车 慢慢 地 从 东 <strong></strong><em>向</em> 西。<span class="pinyin">Yī liàng hēisè de xiǎo jiàochē mànmàn de cóng dōng <strong>shǐ</strong><em>xiàng</em> xī.</span><span class="trans">A small black sedan slowly drove from east to west.</span>
* 像 鸟儿 一样 飞 <em>向</em> 蓝天。<span class="pinyin">Xiàng niǎo er yīyàng fēi <em>xiàng</em> lántiān.</span><span class="trans">The little birds flew towards the sky.</span>
+
* 像 鸟儿 一样 <strong></strong><em>向</em> 蓝天。<span class="pinyin">Xiàng niǎoér yīyàng <strong>fēi</strong><em>xiàng</em> lántiān.</span><span class="trans">Like a bird, it flew into the blue yonder.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== When to use "向" and "朝" ==
+
== When to Use "向" and "朝" ==
  
When the action that takes place is specified to a specific target, use 向 or 朝. 往 cannot be used this way. Also, when the verb is a concrete action, the use of 向 and 朝 are the same, and they can be interchanged.  
+
When a concrete action has a specific ''target'' (not a ''destination''), use 向 or 朝. 往 cannot be used this way.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
向 / 朝 + 动作的对象 + 具体意义的动词
+
向 / 朝 + Target + Concrete Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>向</em> / <em>朝</em> 我 笑 了 笑。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>xiàng</em> / <em>cháo</em> wǒ xiào le xiào.</span><span class="trans">He laughed at me.</span>
+
* 他 <em>向</em> / <em>朝</em> 我 笑 了 笑。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>xiàng</em> / <em>cháo</em> wǒ xiào le xiào.</span><span class="trans">He chuckled at me.</span>
* 我 <em>朝</em> 他 开 了 一 枪。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cháo</em> tā kāi le yī qiāng.</span><span class="trans">I shot a gun at him.</span>
+
* 我 <em>朝</em> 他 开 了 一 枪。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cháo</em> tā kāi le yī qiāng.</span><span class="trans">I took a shot at him.</span>
* 他 已经 <em>向</em> 全体 员工 解释 过 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā yǐjīng <em>xiàng</em> quántǐ yuángōng jiěshì guò le.</span><span class="trans">He has already explained it to the employees.</span>
+
* 他 已经 <em>向</em> 全体 员工 解释 过 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā yǐjīng <em>xiàng</em> quántǐ yuángōng jiěshì guo le.</span><span class="trans">He has already explained it to all the employees.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== When to use just "向" ==
+
== When Only "向" Is Correct ==
  
When the verb has an abstract meaning, you can only use 向, and you cannot use 朝.
+
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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
向 + Direction + Abstract Verb
+
向 + Target + Abstract Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 是 优秀 员工,我们 都 要 <em>向</em> 他 学习。 <span class="pinyin">Tā shì yōuxiù yuángōng, wǒmen dōu yào <em>xiàng</em> tā xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">He is an exemplary employee, we should all study him.</span>
+
* 他 是 优秀 员工,我们 都 要 <em>向</em> 他 学习。 <span class="pinyin">Tā shì yōuxiù yuángōng, wǒmen dōu yào <em>xiàng</em> tā xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">He is an exemplary employee, we should all learn from him.</span>
* 我们 要 <em>向</em> 环保 部门 要求 严查 工厂 排污。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen yào <em>xiàng</em> huánbǎo bùmén yāoqiú yán chá gōngchǎng páiwū.</span><span class="trans">We are going to make the Environmental Safety Department closely examine the factory sewage.</span>
+
* 我们 要 <em>向</em> 环保 部门 要求 严查 工厂 排污。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen yào <em>xiàng</em> huánbǎo bùmén yāoqiú yán chá gōngchǎng páiwū.</span><span class="trans">We are going to demand that the Environmental Safety Department closely inspect the factory's sewage.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples of right and wrong sentences ==
+
== Common Mistakes ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="o">这 个 地铁 是 开 <em>往</em> 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè dìtiě shì kāi <em>wǎng</em> Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?</span><span class="trans">Is this subway heading towards Pudong Airport?</span></li>
+
<li class="x">这 个 地铁 是 <strong>开</strong><em>朝</em> 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìtiě shì <strong>kāi</strong><em>cháo</em> Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?</span></li>
<li class="o">你 要 多 <em>向</em> 他 学习 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào duō <em>xiàng</em> tā xuéxí xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">You need to go to him to learn.</span></li>
+
<li class="o">这 个 地铁 是 <strong></strong><em>往</em> 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìtiě shì <strong>kāi</strong><em>wǎng</em> Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?</span><span class="trans">Is this subway heading towards Pudong Airport?</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">你 要 多 <em>往</em> 雷锋 同志 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào duō <em>wǎng</em> Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">你 要 多 <em>朝</em> 雷锋 同志 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào duō <em>cháo</em> Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">你 要 多 <em>向</em> 雷锋 同志 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào duō <em>xiàng</em> tā xuéxí xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">You need to go to him to learn.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">帅哥 <em>往</em> 我 笑 了 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Shuàigē <em>wǎng</em> wǒ xiào le yīxià.</span><span class="trans">When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.</span></li>
 
<li class="o">帅哥 <em>朝</em> 我 笑 了 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Shuàigē <em>cháo</em> wǒ xiào le yīxià.</span><span class="trans">When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.</span></li>
 
<li class="o">帅哥 <em>朝</em> 我 笑 了 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Shuàigē <em>cháo</em> wǒ xiào le yīxià.</span><span class="trans">When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.</span></li>
</ul>
+
<li class="o">帅哥 <em></em> 我 笑 了 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Shuàigē <em>xiàng</em> wǒ xiào le yīxià.</span><span class="trans">The cute guy smiled at me.</span></li>
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<li class="x">你 现在 是 开 <em></em> 市 中心 吗?</li>
 
<li class="x"><em></em> 雷锋 同志 学习!</li>
 
<li class="x"><em>往</em> 雷锋 同志 学习!</li>
 
<li class="x">帅哥 <em>往</em> 我 笑 了。</li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* A: 他 <em>往</em> 南 走 了 。<span class="trans">He walked south.</span>
+
* A: 他 <em>往</em> 南 走 了 。<span class="pinyin">A: Tā <em>wǎng</em> nán zǒu le.</span><span class="trans">He walked south.</span>
* B: 你 怎么 让 他 <em>往</em> 南 走 呢 ?南 边 很 危险 <span class="trans">Why did you make him go south? Going south is dangerous.</span>
+
* B: 笨蛋 ! 你 怎么 让 他 <em>往</em> 南 走 呢 ?南边 很 危险 !<span class="pinyin">B: Bèndàn! Nǐ zěnme ràng tā <em>wǎng</em> nán zǒu ne? Nánbiān hěn wēixiǎn!</span><span class="trans">Idiot! Why did you let him go south? Going south is dangerous!</span>
* A: 你 <em>朝</em> 我 发 什么 火?我 说 了 他 不 听 。<span class="trans">Why are you mad at me? I told him but he didn't listen</span>
+
* A: 你 <em>朝</em> 我 发 什么 火 ?我 说 了 他 不 听 。<span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ <em>cháo</em> wǒ fā shénme huǒ? Wǒ shuō le tā bù tīng.</span><span class="trans">Why are you getting mad at me? I told him but he didn't listen</span>
* B: 不好意思 ,我 应该 <em>向</em> 你 道歉 。<span class="trans">I'm sorry. I should apologize to you.</span>
+
* B: 不好意思 ,我 应该 <em>向</em> 你 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yīnggāi <em>xiàng</em> nǐ dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">I'm sorry. I should apologize to you.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
== See Also ==
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==

Latest revision as of 09:41, 14 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-xiang4.jpg

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 / / 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 左 看看 又 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 你们 家 去 了。Wǒ kànjiàn tā cháo nǐmen jiā qù le.I saw him going towards your house.
  • 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 沈阳。Zhè tàng huǒchē kāiwǎng Shěnyáng.This train is heading towards Shenyang.
  • 这 趟 航班 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 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 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

  • / 我 笑 了 笑。xiàng / cháo wǒ xiào le xiào.He chuckled at me.
  • 他 开 了 一 枪。cháo tā kāi le yī qiāng.I took a shot at him.
  • 他 已经 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 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 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 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?Zhège dìtiě shì kāicháo Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?
  • 这 个 地铁 是 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?Zhège dìtiě shì kāiwǎng Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?Is this subway heading towards Pudong Airport?
  • 你 要 多 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō wǎng Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.
  • 你 要 多 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō cháo Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí.
  • 你 要 多 雷锋 同志 学习 。Nǐ yào duō xiàng tā xuéxí xuéxí.You need to go to him to learn.
  • 帅哥 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē wǎng wǒ xiào le yīxià.When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.
  • 帅哥 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē cháo wǒ xiào le yīxià.When the handsome guy headed my way I smiled.
  • 帅哥 我 笑 了 一下 。Shuàigē xiàng wǒ xiào le yīxià.The cute guy smiled at me.

Example dialog

  • A: 他 南 走 了 。A: Tā wǎng nán zǒu le.He walked south.
  • B: 笨蛋 ! 你 怎么 让 他 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 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 你 道歉 。B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yīnggāi xiàng nǐ dàoqiàn.I'm sorry. I should apologize to you.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5