往
toward; to (a direction)
wǎng
What does 往 mean?
往 (wǎng) is a preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of.' It comes before a direction word and then a verb of motion: 往 + DIRECTION + VERB. Common patterns: 往前走 (wǎng qián zǒu, walk forward), 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi, turn left), 往北开 (wǎng běi kāi, drive north), 往家走 (wǎng jiā zǒu, head home). It is the standard word for giving directions in conversation, taxis, and navigation apps. 往 differs from 到 (dào, 'to / arrive at,' which marks a destination point) — 往 names the direction of motion, not necessarily the endpoint. It also differs from 向 (xiàng), a near-synonym that's slightly more formal/literary; in spoken northern Mandarin, 往 is more frequent. Note: 往 has a second pronunciation, wàng (fourth tone), used in compounds like 往日 (wǎngrì, the past — actually still wǎng) and as a literary alternative; HSK 2 only needs the wǎng (third tone) preposition.
Character breakdown
toward; to go to; in the direction of
Memory hook: 彳 (the 'step' radical on the left) tells you 往 has to do with movement. 往 = movement TOWARD somewhere.
Example sentences
请往前走，然后往左拐。
Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu, ránhòu wǎng zuǒ guǎi.
Please go straight, then turn left.
polite
这趟车往北京。
Zhè tàng chē wǎng Běijīng.
This train is bound for Beijing.
neutral
你往哪儿走？
Nǐ wǎng nǎr zǒu?
Which way are you going?
spoken
往前看，不要往后看。
Wǎng qián kàn, bú yào wǎng hòu kàn.
Look forward, don't look back.
neutral
司机，请往学校开。
Sījī, qǐng wǎng xuéxiào kāi.
Driver, please head toward the school.
polite
Common phrases with 往
Synonyms
向 is a near-synonym, slightly more formal/written. Both mean 'toward.' 向前走 and 往前走 both work. 向 is preferred in formal directions or written instructions; 往 is more common in casual speech and taxi directions.
朝 is also 'toward / facing,' but it emphasizes orientation/facing rather than motion. 朝 can describe which way something faces: 房子朝南 ('the house faces south'). 往 is specifically about moving in a direction.
Don't confuse 往 with
到 marks the destination/endpoint of motion — 到家 ('arrive home'). 往 marks the direction of motion — 往家走 ('head toward home'). 'I'm going TO Beijing' = 我去北京; 'head TOWARD Beijing' = 往北京走.
忘 means 'to forget' — same pinyin in some tones (wàng, fourth) but different character (心 heart radical at bottom). Different meaning. 我忘了 ('I forgot') vs 往前走 ('walk forward').
网 means 'net / web / internet' (上网 'go online'). Same pinyin as 往, very different character and meaning. Easy to confuse phonetically as a beginner.