朝(cháo) vs 向(xiàng) vs 往(wǎng)

朝 vs 向 vs 往

1. “朝” “向” “往” all can be used to indicate the direction of an action. They are generally followed by a noun indicating direction or place.

朝/向/往 + noun

e.g.

妹妹朝/向/往北边跑去。(Mèimei cháo/xiàng/wǎng běibian pǎo qù.) Sister ran to the north.

他朝/向/往家走去。(Tā cháo/xiàng/wǎng jiā zǒu qù.) He walked towards home.

大家都在朝/向/往左边看，为什么？(Dàjiā dōu zài cháo/xiàng/wǎng zuǒbiān kàn, wèishéme?) Everyone is looking to the left, why?

2. “向” and “往” can be put after a verb, but “朝”

开/跑/走/飞/奔/冲/通/指…… + 向

开/飞/去/通/寄/运/派/逃…… + 往

e.g.

√ 孩子跑向学校去了。(Háizi pǎo xiàng xuéxiào qùle.) The kid runs to school.

✘ 孩子跑朝学校去了。

√ 这些衣服寄往中国。(Zhèxiē yīfu jì wǎng Zhōngguó.) These clothes are sent to China.

✘ 这些衣服寄朝中国。

3. “往” is often used to show the destination, while “向” emphasizes the direction, not necessarily the destination.

e.g.

这列火车是开往北京的。(Zhè liè huǒchē shì kāi wǎng Běijīng de.) This train is heading for Beijing.

>> Beijing is the destination

 

A: 这列火车是开往北京的。(Zhè liè huǒchē shì kāi wǎng Běijīng de.) This train is heading for Beijing.

B：但是我要去沈阳，我不能坐这列车。(Dànshì wǒ yào qù Shěnyáng, wǒ bùnéng zuò zhè liè chē.) But I am going to Shenyang, I cannot take this train.

 

这列火车开向北京。(Zhè liè huǒchē kāi xiàng Běijīng.) This train is heading towards Beijing.

>> Beijing is not necessarily the destination.

 

这列火车开向北京，终点是沈阳；那列火车也是开向北京的，终点是天津。(Zhè liè huǒchē kāi xiàng Běijīng, zhōngdiǎn shì Shěnyáng; nà liè huǒchē yěshì kāi xiàng Běijīng de, zhōngdiǎn shì Tiānjīn.) This train goes towards Beijing and ends in Shenyang; that train also goes towards Beijing and ends in Tianjin.

4. “朝” and “向” can be followed by a noun or a pronoun to introduce the object of an action, while “往” cannot be used in this way.

朝 / 向 + the object of the action

e.g.

√ 他朝/向我跑来。(Tā cháo/xiàng wǒ pǎo lái.) He ran towards me.

✘ 他往我跑来。(Tā wǎng wǒ pǎo lái.)

 

√ 同学们朝/向老师看去。(Tóngxuémen cháo/xiàng lǎoshī kàn qù.) The students looked towards the teacher.

✘ 同学们往老师看去。(Tóngxuémen wǎng lǎoshī kàn qù.)

When the verb has an abstract meaning, we can only use ”向” to indicate the object of the action, and cannot use ”朝” or “往”. Verbs are as follows: 学习/请教/打听/借/请教/道歉/说……

    e.g.

√ 我应该向你学习。(Wǒ yīnggāi xiàng nǐ xuéxí.) I should learn from you.

✘ 我应该朝/往你学习。(Wǒ yīnggāi cháo/wǎng nǐ xuéxí.)

 

√ 这件事是我不对，我向你道歉。(Zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ búduì, wǒ xiàng nǐ dàoqiàn.) I am wrong about this, and I apologize to you.

✘ 这件事是我不对，我朝/往你道歉。(Zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ búduì, wǒ cháo/wǎng nǐ dàoqiàn.)

5. “朝” could indicate to face a direction, but “向” and “往”

e.g.

我们家是朝南的，阳光很好。(Wǒmen jiā shì cháo nán de, yángguāng hěn hǎo.) Our house faces south and the sun is good.

面朝大海的时候，我感到幸福。(Miàn cháo dàhǎi de shíhòu, wǒ gǎndào xìngfú.) When facing the sea, I feel happy.

6. “往” could indicate a continuation of an action, but “朝” and “向”

e.g.

请您继续往下说！(Qǐng nín jìxù wǎng xià shuō!) Please continue speaking!

这个语言有点难，你要继续往下学吗？(Zhège yǔyán yǒudiǎn nán, nǐ yào jìxù wǎng xià xué ma?) This language is a bit difficult. Do you want to continue to learn it?