HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
to
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
towards
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
(of a train) bound for
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
past
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
previous
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
old variant of 往[wǎng]
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
往
wǎng
to go, to depart; past, former
HSK 2, zg, 8 strokes, radical 彳, rank #556, Medium
wǎng(wang3) T3
1to go (in a direction)
2to
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#556DifficultyMedium
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
The city police set up roadblocks to check passing vehicles.
10
我及时赶上了飞往伦敦的航班。
wǒ jí shí gǎn shàng le fēi wǎng lún dūn de háng bān。
I arrived just in time for my flight to London.
Cultural Notes for 往
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 往
Compounds1
暀
Words Containing This Character20
往wǎngto
往往wǎngwǎngusually
前往qiánwǎngto leave for
交往jiāowǎngto associate (with)
以往yǐwǎngin the past
通往tōngwǎngto lead to
往事wǎngshìpast events
往后wǎnghòufrom now on往後
往常wǎngchánghabitually (in the past)
往来wǎngláidealings往來
向往xiàngwǎngto yearn for嚮往
来往láiwǎngto come and go來往
一如既往yìrújìwǎngcontinuing as always
过往guòwǎngto come and go過往
往年wǎngniánin former years
往前to move forwards
赶往gǎnwǎngto hurry to (somewhere)趕往
往返wǎngfǎnround trip
往日wǎngrìformer days
开往heading for開往
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 往 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 往
You can use 往 to indicate direction, such as in '我往学校走' (Wǒ wǎng xuéxiào zǒu) meaning 'I am going towards the school.'
Yes, 往 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in everyday conversation.
往 emphasizes the direction or destination, while 去 simply means 'to go' without the directional nuance.
