The word 向往 is a compound formed by combining two characters with related directional meanings: 向, meaning "to face" or "toward", and 往, meaning "to go" or "toward". Together, they create a semantic fusion where the literal sense of "facing and moving toward" a place evolves into a strong abstract noun and verb meaning to yearn for, to aspire to, or to look forward to something idealized or in the future. This formation exemplifies how Chinese often combines concrete directional verbs to express abstract psychological states, resulting in a word that vividly captures the feeling of one's heart and mind being drawn toward a distant goal, place, or ideal.