(cháo) — (verb) to face (a direction); to make a pilgrimage to; (preposition) towards, in the direction of

Definition

As preposition 'towards', 朝 marks a fixed direction (窗户朝南开 'the window faces south'), stronger and more directional than 往. As verb it also means to make a pilgrimage.

verb
to face (a direction)to make a pilgrimage to
preposition
towardsin the direction of

Examples

  • Tā cháo wǒ xiào le yí xià.
    He smiled towards me.
  • Chuāng hu cháo nán kāi.
    The window faces south.
  • Měi nián dōu yǒu hěn duō rén qù cháo shèng.
    Many people go on pilgrimage every year.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

Originally, 朝 showed the sun rising above the ground while the moon was still in the sky, giving the sense of morning.

Grammar

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