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

 
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{{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. Although they are often interchangeable, there are also cases when they are not.
  
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* 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 <em>向</em> 右 看看 才 过 马路。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè 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>
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* 这 个 小 女孩 <em>向</em> 左 看看 又 <em>向</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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* 这 趟 火车 <strong>开</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 火车 <strong>开</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 <strong>飞</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>
 
* 这 趟 航班 <strong>飞</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 <strong>驶</strong><em>向</em> 西。<span class="pinyin">Yī liàng hēisè de xiǎo jiàochē màn man 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>
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* 一 辆 黑色 的 小 轿车 慢慢 地 从 东 <strong>驶</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 <strong>飞</strong><em>向</em> 蓝天。<span class="pinyin">Xiàng niǎo er yīyàng <strong>fēi</strong><em>xiàng</em> lántiān.</span><span class="trans">Like a bird, it flew into the blue yonder.</span>
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* 像 鸟儿 一样 <strong>飞</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>
 
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* 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>
 
* 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 took a shot 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 all the employees.</span>
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* 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>
 
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<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">你 现在 <em></em> 市 中心 吗?</li>
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<li class="x">这 个 地铁 是 <strong></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="x"><em>朝</em> 雷锋 同志 学习!</li>
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<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"><em>往</em> 雷锋 同志 学习!</li>
 
<li class="x">帅哥 <em>往</em> 我 笑 了。</li>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<li class="x">这 个 地铁 是 开<em>朝</em> 浦东 机场 的 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè dìtiě shì kāi<em>cháo</em> Pǔdōng jīchǎng de ma?</span></li>
 
<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">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>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="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>
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* 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>
 
* 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="pinyin">B: Nǐ zěnme ràng tā <em>wǎng</em> nán zǒu ne? Nán biān hěn wéixiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Why did you make him go south? Going south is dangerous.</span>
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* 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="pinyin">A: Nǐ <em>cháo</em> wǒ fā shénme huǒ? Wǒ shuō le tā bù tīng.</span><span class="trans">Why are you mad at me? I told him but he didn't listen</span>
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* 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="pinyin">B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yīnggāi <em>xiàng</em> nǐ dàoqiàn.</span><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>
 
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== 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