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March 24, 2026
往wǎng(wang3)
The character 往 (wǎng) primarily means 'to go' or 'to head towards' a specific direction. It is often used in contexts related to movement, travel, and directionality, as well as to indicate time, such as referring to the past. In addition, it can be used in more specific contexts like train destinations.
Strokes8Radical彳Frequency#556DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of direction is significant, particularly in travel and navigation, reflecting the importance of knowing one's path in life. The usage of 往 in train schedules highlights the organized nature of transportation in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person 'waving' goodbye (sounds like 'wǎng') as they go off in a direction. The character 往 resembles a person walking away, emphasizing movement towards a destination.
Meanings of 往
wǎng(wang3)
1to go (in a direction)
2to
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 往
往Simplified
8Strokes
彳Radical
状态词zgpv (stat.)Part of Speech
#556Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 往
Podcast: 往
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AI Study Notes for 往
Quick Contrast
去 (qù) - use 往 when emphasizing directionality towards a destination, while 去 is more general for 'to go' without the directional nuance.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 往 with other directional verbs like 去 (qù) which means 'to go away'. This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in spoken language. Common collocations include 往前 (wǎng qián - go forward) and 往返 (wǎng fǎn - round trip).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 往 connects well with verbs of movement and direction, such as 去 (qù) and 来 (lái). Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe routes or journeys.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 往 with the character 去, leading to sentences like '我去学校' (Wǒ qù xuéxiào) instead of '我往学校' (Wǒ wǎng xuéxiào) when they want to emphasize direction. Remember, use 往 when you want to highlight the direction taken.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 往
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Phonosemantic compound. 彳 and 止 represent the meaning, and 王 represents the sound.
1The meaning half彳 carries the sense.
2The sound half王 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystep
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 往? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 往?
Decomposition of 往
IDS Structure⿰彳⿱？王
往Full Character
=
彳chi4
left
王Wang2
top
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 往?
How to say to go (in a direction) in Chinese
“to go (in a direction)” in Chinese is往wǎng
The character 往 (wǎng) primarily means 'to go' or 'to head towards' a specific direction. It is often used in contexts related to movement, travel, and directionality, as well as to indicate time, such as referring to the past. In addition, it can be used in more specific contexts like train destinations.
When to use 往
Be careful not to confuse 往 with other directional verbs like 去 (qù) which means 'to go away'. This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in spoken language. Common collocations include 往前 (wǎng qián - go forward) and 往返 (wǎng fǎn - round trip).
往 or something close to it
去 (qù) - use 往 when emphasizing directionality towards a destination, while 去 is more general for 'to go' without the directional nuance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 往 with the character 去, leading to sentences like '我去学校' (Wǒ qù xuéxiào) instead of '我往学校' (Wǒ wǎng xuéxiào) when they want to emphasize direction. Remember, use 往 when you want to highlight the direction taken.
Write 往
往
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Grammar Patterns of 往
往 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
