How to Say “Toward” with 往 (wǎng)
往 (wǎng) means “toward,” marking the direction a movement goes. In everyday speech it comes before the verb: 往 + Direction + Verb. 往前走 (“go straight ahead”), 往左拐 (“turn left”), 往上看 (“look up”). In written or fixed phrases it can follow a few transport verbs instead: 开往北京 (“bound for Beijing”), 飞往纽约 (“flying to New York”). And 往下 means “keep going” (往下说, “keep talking”).
Why this trips learners up
往 (wǎng) means “toward,” and its job is to mark the direction a movement heads in. The everyday frame is 往 + Direction / Place + Verb: 往 takes a direction word and the verb comes right after. 往前走 (“go straight ahead”), 往左拐 (“turn left”), 往上看 (“look up”), 往里走 (“move further in”). This before-the-verb position is the one you'll use in speech all the time, especially for directions.
The first thing to get right is word order: the 往-phrase sits before the verb, not after it. English says “walk toward the front” with the direction trailing; Chinese says 往前走 (“toward-front walk”) with it leading. So it's 往左拐 (“turn left”), never 拐往左. And 往 always needs a direction or place word attached to it, 往前 / 往左 / 往里, never a bare 往 by itself.
There is a second, more written or fixed structure where 往 comes after the verb: Verb + 往 + Place. This only works with a handful of monosyllabic transport verbs plus a real destination: 开往北京的火车 (“the train bound for Beijing”), 飞往纽约的飞机 (“the plane to New York”), 运往国外的货物 (“goods shipped overseas”). It has the formal ring of English “bound for,” and you'll meet it on signs and timetables far more than in conversation. Don't extend it to ordinary speech: you can't say 走往前面 for “walk forward.”
One handy set phrase to know is 往下 (wǎng xià), literally “toward down,” which means “keep going / carry on” after something was interrupted. It pairs with sensory and communication verbs: 往下说 (“keep talking”), 往下读 (“read on”), 你往下听就明白了 (“keep listening and you'll see”).
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
qǐng 请 Other wǎng 往 Pattern qián 前 Place zǒu 走 Verb
Please go straight ahead (往 + direction + verb).
zài lùkǒu 在路口 Place wǎng 往 Pattern zuǒ 左 Place guǎi 拐 Verb
Turn left at the intersection (往左 before the verb 拐).
qǐng dàjiā 请大家 Other wǎng 往 Pattern lǐ 里 Place zǒu 走 Verb
Everyone please move further in (往里走).
nà zhī māo 那只猫 Subject wǎng 往 Pattern shù shang 树上 Place pá 爬 Verb
The cat climbed up the tree (往树上 + verb).
bié 别 Negation wǎng 往 Pattern dìshang 地上 Place rēng 扔 Verb lājī 垃圾 Object
Don't throw trash on the ground (往地上 + verb, negative).
zhè tàng hángbān 这趟航班 Subject fēi 飞 Verb wǎng 往 Pattern Běijīng 北京 Place
This flight goes to Beijing (the written verb + 往 + place form).
zhèxiē huòwù 这些货物 Subject yào 要 Function word yùn 运 Verb wǎng 往 Pattern guówài 国外 Place
These goods will be shipped overseas (运往国外, written form).
nǐ 你 Subject wǎng 往 Pattern xià 下 Place tīng 听 Verb jiù míngbai le 就明白了 Other
Keep listening and you'll understand (往下 = “keep going”).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: In speech the 往-phrase comes before the verb, not after it like English “walk forward.” “Walk forward” is 往前走, not 走往前. Put 往 + the direction first, then the verb.
Why it happens: 往 isn't a standalone “go to”: it needs a verb after it, or it's the written 开往 / 飞往 form. “This train goes to Shanghai” is 这趟车开往上海 (or 往上海开), not 这趟车往上海 on its own. To just say you're going somewhere, use 去 / 到 (我去上海).
Why it happens: 往 must be followed by a direction or place word, never left bare. “Turn left” is 往左拐, not 往拐, because the 左 (the direction) can't be dropped. 往 + direction, then the verb.
Compare & contrast
| 往 + direction + verb (spoken) | verb + 往 + place (written / fixed) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 往前走wǎng qián zǒu = “go straight ahead” (spoken) | 开往北京的火车kāi wǎng Běijīng de huǒchē = “the train bound for Beijing” (written) | 往前走 = “go straight ahead”: 往 comes before the verb and takes a direction word, the everyday spoken order. 开往北京的火车 = “the train bound for Beijing”: 往 follows the verb 开 and takes a destination, a written, formal pattern. Same 往, opposite position. |
| 往左拐wǎng zuǒ guǎi = “turn left” (spoken) | 飞往纽约的飞机fēi wǎng Niǔyuē de fēijī = “the plane to New York” (written) | 往左拐 = “turn left” (spoken, 往 + direction + verb). 飞往纽约的飞机 = “the plane to New York” (written, verb + 往 + place). Use the first when you talk; the second is for signs, timetables and formal writing. |
Try it yourself
Say “Please turn left.” Put 往 + the direction before the verb.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Toward” with 往 (wǎng) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.