Expressing "toward" with "wang"

Used as "Towards"

往 (wǎng) is a preposition that means "towards" and is used often when expressing or referring to an action.

Used before a Verb

Structure

Adding 往 (wǎng) with a location or placement word, expresses the direction of the action.

往 + Direction / Place + Verb

Examples

• 一直 往 前 走 。Yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu.Go straight along.
• 往 左 拐 。Wǎng zuǒ guǎi.Turn left.
• 往 上 看 。Wǎng shàng kàn.Look up there.
• 那个 小偷 往 东 跑 了 。Nàge xiǎotōu wǎng dōng pǎo le.That thief ran towards the east.
• 不要 往 楼下 扔 垃圾 。Bùyào wǎng lóuxià rēng lājī.Don't throw trash downstairs.
• 不要 往 我 家 打电话 了 ！Bùyào wǎng wǒ jiā dǎ diànhuà le!Stop calling my house!

Used after a Verb

In written language, 往 (wǎng) can be used after a few monosyllabic verbs, followed by adding location nouns.

Examples

• 开 往 北京 的 火车 Kāi wǎng Běijīng de huǒchēThe train that goes to Beijing.
• 飞 往 纽约 的 飞机 Fēi wǎng Niǔyuē de fēijīThe airplane that flies to New York.
• 运 往 国外 的 货物 Yùn wǎng guówài de huòwùThe cargos that are shipped overseas.

往下 as "Keep Going"

往下 (wǎng xià) expresses "keep going" , which means that the process has been interrupted before. The verbs that follow are usually sensory verbs: 说 speaking, 读 reading, 写 writing, 看 watching and 听 listening.

Examples

• 往 下 说 。Wǎng xià shuō.Keep talking.
• 往 下 读 。 Wǎng xià dú.Keep reading.
• 你 往 下 看 就 知道 了 。Nǐ wǎng xià kàn jiù zhīdào le.Keep reading it and then you will figure out.

See also

• Using "dui" with verbs
• Expressing "towards" with "xiang"
• Comparing "chao" "xiang" and "wang"

Sources and further reading

Books

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