向 meaning and stroke order
Towards; to face; to turn towards
How to write 向, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 向
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- towards
- to face
- to turn towards
- direction
- to support
- to side with
How 向 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 向
Picture the outer frame of 向 as the wall of a house with a little tick on the roof, and 口 inside as an opening, like a window. A window always faces a certain direction, so 向 (xiàng) means to face or towards.
向 is very common as a preposition meaning towards, placed before the person or place: 向 + target + verb. It also appears in words like 方向 (fāngxiàng, direction) and 一向 (yīxiàng, always, all along). Example: 他向我走过来。(Tā xiàng wǒ zǒu guòlái.) He walked over towards me.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 向 with 问 (wèn, to ask), since both have 口 inside a frame. 问 uses the door 门, while 向 has a short stroke on top and an open-bottomed box.
Common words with 向
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction; orientation | HSK 2 |
| 向前 | xiàng qián | forward; onward | HSK 5 |
| 一向 | yīxiàng | a period of time in the recent past; (indicating a period of time up to the present) all a | HSK 5 |
| 向上 | xiàngshàng | upward; up | HSK 5 |
| 转向 | zhuǎnxiàng | to change direction; fig. to change one's stance | HSK 5 |
| 向导 | xiàngdǎo | guide | HSK 5 |
| 倾向 | qīngxiàng | trend; tendency | HSK 6 |
| 面向 | miànxiàng | to face; to turn towards; geared towards; catering for; -oriented; (Tw) aspect; facet | HSK 6 |
| 指向 | zhǐxiàng | to point towards; aimed at | HSK 7-9 |
| 去向 | qùxiàng | direction in which sb or sth has gone; whereabouts | HSK 7-9 |
| 向着 | xiàngzhe | towards; facing (sb or sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 向来 | xiànglái | always (previously) | HSK 7-9 |
| 方向盘 | fāngxiàngpán | steering wheel | HSK 7-9 |
| 向往 | xiàngwǎng | to yearn for; to look forward to | HSK 7-9 |
向 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 向
Learning 向 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 向
How many strokes are in 向?
向 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 向 mean?
向 (xiàng) means towards; to face; to turn towards. A common word with it is 方向 (fāngxiàng), meaning "direction; orientation".
How do you pronounce 向?
向 is pronounced xiàng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 向?
The radical of 向 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 向 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 向?
The traditional form of 向 is 嚮 and 曏. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 向 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 向 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 向 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 向 and 往?
Both can mean towards. 往 (wǎng) is mostly used for physical movement in a direction, as in 往前走 (go forward). 向 also works for abstract targets like people, as in 向他学习 (learn from him), where 往 does not fit.
Can 向 be used after a verb?
Yes, it can follow some verbs to show direction, as in 走向 (zǒuxiàng, walk towards) or 面向 (miànxiàng, to face). This pattern is common in written and formal Chinese, for example 走向未来 (head towards the future).