Expressing "towards" with "xiang"

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 !Bùyào 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 ?Zhème zhòngyào de shì nǐmen zěnme bù xiàng lǎobǎn bàogào yīxià?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 。Kèhù bù liǎojiě zhège qíngkuàng, nǐ yīnggāi xiàng tā jiěshì yīxià.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 ! Wǒ bù xǐhuan xiàng tóngshì jiè qián.I don't like to borrow money to my colleagues.
  • 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


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