嚮 (xiàng) - towards & direction

嚮Tone 4

xiàng ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

嚮 · xiàng

towards;

direction;

to face;

to guide;

formerly;

previously;

to favor;

to incline to

towardsdirectionto face

Usage highlights

DirectionTo guideTo face towardsTo incline toTo yearn forTo turn towards

Synonyms

  • 向— towards; direction (more common simplified form)
  • 朝— facing; towards; dynasty
  • 对— towards; facing; correct

Antonyms

  • 背— to turn one's back on; to betray

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He walked towards the mountain (向山走去).
  • Please face the camera (请面向镜头).
  • This room faces south (这个房间朝南向).
  • He has a tendency towards optimism (他倾向于乐观).

Collocations

  • Direction(方向)
  • To guide(向导)
  • To face towards(面向)
  • To incline to(倾向)
  • To yearn for(向往)
  • To turn towards(转向)

Idioms

  • To yearn for something day and night(心嚮往之)
  • To guide someone onto the right path(导之以嚮)
  • To turn peril into safety(转危为安，嚮明而治)
  • All rivers flow to the sea; all hearts turn towards the benevolent(百川归海，万嚮所归)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese thought, 'facing south' (南向) was the position of authority, as emperors traditionally sat facing south.
  • The character implies not just physical direction but also mental inclination or aspiration, as in 'yearning for' (向往).
  • Used historically in texts to mean 'formerly' or 'in the past', indicating a temporal direction.

FAQ