往 (wǎng) — (preposition) toward, in the direction of; (verb) to go (to a place), used in phrases like 往哪里去
Definition
往 (wǎng) is the everyday preposition 'toward, in the direction of' (e.g. 往前走). 前往 is the same idea but formal/written; 朝 overlaps as a preposition but leans literary. As a verb it means 'to go (to a place).'
preposition
towardin the direction of
verb
to go (to a place), used in phrases like 往哪里去
Examples
- 往。Nǐ wǎng qián zǒu wǔ fēn zhōng jiù dào le.Walk straight ahead for five minutes and you'll be there.
- 往。Tā wǎng xué xiào zǒu qù.He walked toward the school.
- 往。Zhè tàng huǒ chē wǎng shàng hǎi kāi.This train is bound for Shanghai.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.
Grammar
Appears in
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