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Direction Words: 向, 朝, and 往

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ID: 7432 Intermediate
Direction Words: 向 (xiàng), 朝 (cháo), 往 (wǎng).   In this lesson, User john658186522 asked for a more in-depth look at the difference between 向 and 往 and 朝 which can mean towards/facing etc in English. These "direction" words can be tricky in Chinese, as sometimes they can be interchanged, but not always, so it's best to understand which to use in which context. This is an updated video lesson of a previous audio lesson that can be found here, (QW0380).
Wed Jan 25 2017 | Constance Fang, Fiona Tian
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向、朝、往”都跟方向有关，单纯地指出方向的时候，用法相同，但是搭配不同的动作概念的时候，就会有微小的差别了。
xiàng 、cháo 、wǎng ”dōu gēn fāngxiàng yǒuguān ，dānchún de zhǐchū fāngxiàng de shíhou ，yòngfǎ xiāngtóng ，dànshì dāpèi bùtóng de dòngzuò gàiniàn de shíhou ，jiù huì yǒu wēixiǎo de chābié le 。
Xiang4, chao2 and wang3 are all related to "direction". If you are simply using them when giving directions, the usage is the same. However, when paired with different actions, differences begin to emerge.
向、往方向动词：口语常用，用法相同。
xiàng 、wǎng fāngxiàng dòngcí ：kǒuyǔ chángyòng ，yòngfǎ xiāngtóng 。
Xiang4 or wang3 direction verb : common in spoken Chinese, same usage.
向左转、向右转、向前走、向后看；往左转、往右转、往前走、往后看
xiàng zuǒzhuǎn 、xiàng yòu zhuǎn 、xiàngqián zǒu 、xiànghòu kàn ；wǎng zuǒzhuǎn 、wǎng yòu zhuǎn 、wǎng qián zǒu 、wǎnghòu kàn
Turn left, turn right, walk forward, look back.
N1向N2动词：搭配“内向性”动词，比如，买、借、学、收、要...等等。
N1 xiàng N2 dòngcí ：dāpèi “nèixiàng xìng ”dòngcí ，bǐrú ，mǎi 、jiè 、xué 、shōu 、yào . . . děngdeng 。
First noun xiang4 second noun verb: When coupled with an "inward" verb, such as, to buy, to borrow, to learn, to receive, to want...etc.
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