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Lesson

Direction Preposition (向 / 往)

1. Explain it simply

向 and 往 point an action in a direction.

Put 向/往 before the direction, then the verb: 往 + direction + verb.

The direction goes in the middle - say 往前走, not 走往前.

向 and 往 are often interchangeable for directions.

2. Show examples

往前走。

Wǎng qián zǒu.

Walk forward.

往 + direction + verb

向左走。

Xiàng zuǒ zǒu.

Go left.

direction in the middle

一直往前走。

Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu.

Keep walking forward.

with 一直

3. Share a tip

Put the direction between 向/往 and the verb - the verb always comes last.

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