The word "向着" is formed through a grammatical compounding process where the directional preposition "向" (xiàng, meaning "toward" or "to face") is combined with the aspect particle "着" (zhe, indicating a continuous or ongoing state). This fusion creates a single functional word that acts as a compound preposition, meaning "toward" or "facing," but with the added nuance of a sustained direction or a fixed, ongoing orientation, as in "向着太阳" (facing the sun) or "向着目标前进" (advancing toward the goal). The particle "着" grammaticalizes the inherent directional meaning of "向" into a continuous form, making the action or state more durative and stable.