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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 往 means.
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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How Well Do You Know 往?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 往 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
往 = 彳 + 王. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 往
IDS Structure⿰彳⿱？王
往Full Character
=
彳chi4
left
王Wang2
top
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part 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.
