往 wǎng towards
towards; in the past
How to remember 往: 彳 step forward + 主 lord = towards. The nervous actor must step forward as the lord in the school play and walk slowly towards the princess.
Component breakdown
往 = 彳 step forward + 主 lord
- 彳 step forward
- 主 lord
The nervous actor must step forward as the lord in the school play and walk slowly towards the princess.
How it is used
- "Towards", with motion - 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi) turn left, 往前走 (wǎng qián zǒu) go forward. The word you see on signposts.
- Also "in the past" - 往年 (wǎngnián) in past years, 以往 (yǐwǎng) formerly. 往往 (wǎngwǎng) = tend to/often (of habitual patterns, not one-off frequency).
Words with 往
- 往往wǎngwǎngoftenHSK 4
- 交往jiāowǎngto associate (with)HSK 5
- 前往qiánwǎngto leave forHSK 5
- 往返wǎngfǎnto go back and forthHSK 5
- 以往yǐwǎngin the pastHSK 6
- 向往xiàngwǎngto yearn forHSK 6
- 往后wǎnghòufrom now onHSK 6
- 往年wǎngniánin former yearsHSK 6
- 往来wǎngláidealingsHSK 6
- 来往láiwǎngto come and goHSK 6
- 一如既往yìrú-jìwǎngjust as in the pastHSK 7
- 勇往直前yǒngwǎng-zhíqiánto advance bravelyHSK 7
- 往事wǎngshìpast eventsHSK 7
- 往常wǎngchángusualHSK 7
- 往日wǎngrìformer daysHSK 7
- 过往guòwǎngto come and goHSK 7
- 礼尚往来lǐshàngwǎngláiliterally proper behavior is based on reciprocityHSK 9
Example sentences
- 水往下流。 Shuǐ wǎng xià liú.The water is flowing down.
- 请往左拐。 Qǐng wǎng zuǒ guǎi.Please turn left.
- 旧照片让我想起了往事。 Jiù zhàopiàn ràng wǒ xiǎngqǐle wǎngshì.The old pictures remind me of the past.
- 他往往工作到半夜。 Tā wǎngwǎng gōngzuò dào bànyè.He often works until midnight.