Difference between revisions of "Expressing "towards" with "xiang""

Line 45: Line 45:
 
*警察 正在 <em>向</em> 他 的 邻居 了解 情况 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐngchá zhèngzài <em>xiàng</em> tā de línjū liǎojiě qíngkuàng.</span><span class="trans">The policemen are asking his neighbors for more information.</span>
 
*警察 正在 <em>向</em> 他 的 邻居 了解 情况 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐngchá zhèngzài <em>xiàng</em> tā de línjū liǎojiě qíngkuàng.</span><span class="trans">The policemen are asking his neighbors for more information.</span>
 
*我们 都 没 经验 ,是 来 <em>向</em> 你 取经 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, lái <em>xiàng</em> nǐ qǔjīng de.</span><span class="trans">None of us have experience. We're here to get some experience from you.</span>
 
*我们 都 没 经验 ,是 来 <em>向</em> 你 取经 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, lái <em>xiàng</em> nǐ qǔjīng de.</span><span class="trans">None of us have experience. We're here to get some experience from you.</span>
*我 不 喜欢 <em>向</em> 同事 借钱 ! <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em>xiàng</em> nǐ xuéxí!</span><span class="trans">I want to learn from you.</span>
+
*我 不 喜欢 <em>向</em> 同事 借钱 ! <span class="trans">I don't like to borrow money to my colleages.</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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 02:59, 14 September 2017

向 (xiàng) is a preposition that means "towards," and is used often when expressing or referring to a certain point.

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 Word] / [Person] + Verb

Examples

  • 东 走 。Xiàng Dōng zǒu.Walk towards east.
  • 前 看 。Xiàng qián kàn.Look forward.
  • 左 转 。Xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn.Turn left.
  • 老师 正 我们 走 来 。Lǎoshī zhèng xiàng wǒmen zǒu lái.The teacher is walking up towards us.
  • 火车 已经 开 了 ,她 还在 我 招手 。Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi le, tā hái zài xiàng wǒ zhāoshǒu.The train already took off. She kept waving towards me.
  • 不要 我 开枪 !Bù yào xiàng wǒ kāiqiāng!Don't shoot at me .
  • 你 需要 他 道歉 。Nǐ xūyào xiàng tā dàoqiàn.You need to apologize to him.
  • 这么 重要 的 事 你们 怎么 不 老板 报告 一下 ?Why didn't you report such an important thing to the boss?
  • 客户 不 了解 这个 情况 ,你 应该 他 解释 一下 。The client doesn't know this situation. You should explain to him.
  • 客户 不 了解 这个 情况 ,你 应该 他 解释 一下 。The client doesn't know this situation. You should explain to him.

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):

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

Examples

  • 你 要 好 学生 学习 。Nǐ yào xiàng hǎo xuéshēng xuéxí.You should learn from good students.
  • 警察 正在 他 的 邻居 了解 情况 。Jǐngchá zhèngzài xiàng tā de línjū liǎojiě qíngkuàng.The policemen are asking his neighbors for more information.
  • 我们 都 没 经验 ,是 来 你 取经 的 。Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, lái xiàng nǐ qǔjīng de.None of us have experience. We're here to get some experience from you.
  • 我 不 喜欢 同事 借钱 ! I don't like to borrow money to my colleages.
  • 你 会 陌生人 求助 吗 ?Nǐ huì xiàng mòshēngrén qiúzhù ma?Would you ask strangers for help?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books


[[pattern::向 + [Direction Word] / [Person] + Verb| ]]