{{Grammar Box}} 
 
向 (xiàng) is a preposition that means "towards," and is used often when expressing or referring to a certain point. 

== Used as "Towards" ==

=== Structure ===

When used as a preposition, "向" indicates an action that is performed towards a reference point, but doesn't have any actual motion towards that point. 

<div class="jiegou">
向 + [Direction Word] + Verb
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
向 + Person + Verb
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*<em>向</em> 东 走 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> dōng zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Walk towards east.</span>
*<em>向</em> 前 看 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> qián kàn.</span><span class="trans">Look forward.</span>
*<em>向</em> 左 转 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> zuǒ zhuǎn.</span><span class="trans">Turn left.</span>
*老师 正 <em>向</em> 我们 走 来 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī zhèng <em>xiàng</em> wǒmen zǒu lái.</span><span class="trans">The teacher is walking up towards us.</span>
*不要 <em>向</em> 我 开枪 ！<span class="pinyin">Bùyào <em>xiàng</em> wǒ kāiqiāng!</span><span class="trans">Don't shoot at me .</span>
*你 需要 <em>向</em> 他 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xūyào <em>xiàng</em> tā dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">You need to apologize to him.</span>
*这 件 事 你 必须 <em>向</em> 老板 汇报 一下 ！<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì nǐ bìxū <em>xiàng</em> lǎobǎn huìbào yīxià!</span><span class="trans">You must report this to the boss!</span>
*火车 已经 开 了 ，她 还在 <em>向</em> 我 招手 。<span class="pinyin">Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi le, tā hái zài <em>xiàng</em> wǒ zhāoshǒu.</span><span class="trans">The train already took off. She kept waving towards me.</span>
*他 还没 <em>向</em> 我 表白 。<span class="pinyin">Tā hiáméi <em>xiàng</em> wǒ biǎobái.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't confessed to me yet.</span>

</div>

== Used as "From" ==

Whereas in English we would say "learn from someone," in Chinese this would be expressed as "learn toward someone," as in the following example (and famous propaganda slogan):

<div class="liju">
*<em>向</em> 雷锋 同志 学习 ！<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiàng</em> Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí!</span><span class="trans">Learn from Comrade Lei Feng!</span>
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*你 要 <em>向</em> 好 学生 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào <em>xiàng</em> hǎo xuéshēng xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">You should learn from good students.</span>
*警察 正在 <em>向</em> 他 的 邻居 了解 情况 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐngchá zhèngzài <em>xiàng</em> tā de línjū liǎojiě qíngkuàng.</span><span class="trans">The policemen are asking his neighbors for more information.</span>
*我们 都 没 经验 ，是 来 <em>向</em> 你 取经 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi jīngyàn, lái <em>xiàng</em> nǐ qǔjīng de.</span><span class="trans">None of us have experience. We're here to get some experience from you.</span>
*我 不 喜欢 <em>向</em> 同事 借钱 ! <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan <em>xiàng</em> tóngshì jiè qián.</span><span class="trans">I don't like to borrow money to my colleagues.</span>
*你 会 <em>向</em> 陌生人 求助 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ huì <em>xiàng</em> mòshēngrén qiúzhù ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you ask strangers for help?</span>

</div>

== See also ==

*[[Using "dui"]]
*[[Expressing "with" with "gen"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] 
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 214) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp. 77) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Prepositions]]
{{Similar|Expressing "with" with "gen"}}
{{Similar|Using "dui"}}
{{Translation|towards}}
{{Basic Grammar|向|B1|向 + [Direction Word] / [Person] + Verb|你 需要 <em>向</em> 他 道歉。|grammar point|ASGQXARS}}
{{POS|Prepositions}}