向

嚮/曏

xiàng

丿 + 冂 + 口

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

xiàng (preposition) towards; to face; direction

xiàng (verb) to support; to side with

xiàng (adverb) shortly before; formerly

Etymology

Depicts a mouth (口) in a closed space (宀) making an echo sound. Based on the original meaning "echo; sound", now written as 響. The meaning later shifted to "direction" and "toward".

About

向 originally combined a mouth (口) inside an enclosed space (宀), depicting a voice echoing within a room. Its earliest meaning was "echo; sound", a sense now written with 響. The idea of sound carrying in a particular direction later shifted the meaning to "direction" and "toward". In modern usage, it serves as a preposition meaning "towards" or "facing", and can indicate physical movement, the target of an action, or a past time frame when referring to previous trends.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我向老师问好。

Wǒ xiàng lǎoshī wènhǎo.

I greet the teacher.

太阳向东升起。

Tàiyáng xiàng dōng shēngqǐ.

The sun rises in the east.

我们向前走。

Wǒmen xiàng qián zǒu.

We walk forward.

他向我借了一本书。

Tā xiàng wǒ jièle yī běn shū.

He borrowed a book from me.

她总是向别人学习。

Tā zǒngshì xiàng biérén xuéxí.

She always learns from others.

这个方向通向城市。

Zhège fāngxiàng tōngxiàng chéngshì.

This direction leads to the city.

他向我解释了原因。

Tā xiàng wǒ jiěshìle yuányīn.

He explained the reason to me.

我们必须向困难挑战。

Wǒmen bìxū xiàng kùnnán tiǎozhàn.

We must challenge difficulties.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 冂

Component: 口

Example Words