Usage of '往'
The character '往' primarily indicates movement toward a direction or place. It is often used before a noun or phrase indicating the destination, such as '往学校' (towards school). It can also appear in instructions or directions, e.g., '往前走' (go forward).
Besides its literal directional use, '往' appears in the adverb '往往', meaning 'often' or 'frequently', which is a common collocation and changes the meaning from physical direction to frequency.
Common Collocations
- 往前走: go forward; used in giving directions.
- 往左/右: towards left/right; specifying direction.
- 往往: often; used to describe frequency, not direction.
Notes
'往' is a formal or literary way to express direction and is often replaced by '向' or '朝' in spoken Mandarin. However, '往' is still very common in written instructions, signs, and formal speech. Avoid confusing '往' with '往往'—the latter is an adverb meaning 'often' and is not related to direction.
Usage of '往'
The character '往' primarily indicates movement toward a direction or place. It is often used before a noun or phrase indicating the destination, such as '往学校' (towards school). It can also appear in instructions or directions, e.g., '往前走' (go forward).
Besides its literal directional use, '往' appears in the adverb '往往', meaning 'often' or 'frequently', which is a common collocation and changes the meaning from physical direction to frequency.
Common Collocations
- 往前走: go forward; used in giving directions.
- 往左/右: towards left/right; specifying direction.
- 往往: often; used to describe frequency, not direction.
Notes
'往' is a formal or literary way to express direction and is often replaced by '向' or '朝' in spoken Mandarin. However, '往' is still very common in written instructions, signs, and formal speech. Avoid confusing '往' with '往往'—the latter is an adverb meaning 'often' and is not related to direction.
Usage of '往'
The character '往' primarily indicates movement toward a direction or place. It is often used before a noun or phrase indicating the destination, such as '往学校' (towards school). It can also appear in instructions or directions, e.g., '往前走' (go forward).
Besides its literal directional use, '往' appears in the adverb '往往', meaning 'often' or 'frequently', which is a common collocation and changes the meaning from physical direction to frequency.
Common Collocations
- 往前走: go forward; used in giving directions.
- 往左/右: towards left/right; specifying direction.
- 往往: often; used to describe frequency, not direction.
Notes
'往' is a formal or literary way to express direction and is often replaced by '向' or '朝' in spoken Mandarin. However, '往' is still very common in written instructions, signs, and formal speech. Avoid confusing '往' with '往往'—the latter is an adverb meaning 'often' and is not related to direction.