往
HSK 2- Location
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Preposition 往 is used to indicate the direction of an action, meaning 'toward', 'in the direction of'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
往 is a preposition (介词) indicating direction, answering the question "going where, in which direction?" It emphasizes the direction of the action rather than the final destination.
The structure 往 + direction typically precedes verbs of movement such as 走 (walk), 开 (drive), 飞 (fly), or directional actions like 看 (look), 寄 (send). Common direction words used with it include 前 (forward), 后 (backward), 左 (left), 右 (right), 东 (east), 西 (west)...
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 往前走就是银行。繁: 往前走就是銀行。Wǎng qián zǒu jiù shì yínháng.
Go straight ahead and you'll reach the bank.
- 请往右看。繁: 請往右看。Qǐng wǎng yòu kàn.
Please look to the right.
- 这趟火车是往上海开的。繁: 這趟火車是往上海開的。Zhè tàng huǒchē shì wǎng Shànghǎi kāi de.
This train is heading to Shanghai.
- 他往我这边走过来了。繁: 他往我這邊走過來了。Tā wǎng wǒ zhèbiān zǒu guòlai le.
He walked toward me.
- 别往后退！繁: 別往後退！Bié wǎng hòu tuì!
Don't back up!
Common mistakes
- Wrong:走往前。Correct:往前走。
The prepositional phrase `往 + direction` must come before the verb, unlike the word order in Vietnamese.
- Wrong:我往学校。Correct:我往学校走。
往 is a preposition and cannot function as a predicate. After the phrase 往 + location, there must be a verb indicating an action.