Preposition: 朝 (Towards / Facing)
介词：朝
Use 朝 to indicate the direction someone faces or moves towards
Place 朝 before a direction word or a person to indicate the direction of an action. 朝 functions similarly to 向 but is more colloquial and often implies physical orientation or facing.
朝 can indicate both static orientation (大门朝南 — the gate faces south) and dynamic direction (朝左边看 — look towards the left). It is very common in spoken Chinese, especially when giving directions.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition: 朝 (Towards / Facing) (介词：朝)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 介词：朝 pattern
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Understanding 介词：朝
The preposition 朝 (cháo) means "towards" or "facing" and tells you the direction of an action or orientation. It is one of the most practical direction words in everyday Chinese. When you say 大门朝南开, you are describing the orientation of a door — it faces south. When you say 他朝我大喊, you are describing the direction of his shout — towards me. Unlike 向, which can be abstract (向他学习 — learn from him), 朝 is more physical and concrete. It paints a picture of someone turning, looking, walking, or facing in a specific direction. You will hear 朝 constantly when people give directions or describe the layout of buildings and rooms.
Key Points
- 朝 (cháo) = "towards / facing" — indicates direction of action or orientation.
- Static use: 门朝南 (the door faces south) — describes fixed orientation.
- Dynamic use: 朝左边走 (walk towards the left) — describes movement direction.
- 朝 is more colloquial and physical than 向, which can be more abstract.
- Very common in directions: 朝前走, 朝右拐, 朝那边看.
- Can be used with people: 朝我笑 (smile at me), 朝他喊 (shout at him).
- Note: 朝 has another pronunciation (zhāo) meaning "morning" — context makes it clear.
In Chinese architecture and feng shui, the direction a building faces is extremely important. 坐北朝南 (sitting north, facing south) is the ideal orientation for traditional Chinese homes, as south-facing buildings receive the most sunlight. You will often hear 朝 used when discussing real estate and home layouts.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
大门朝南开。
The main gate faces south.
Static orientation — the gate faces south
他朝左边看了一下儿。
He glanced to the left.
他朝我大喊："小心！"
He shouted at me: "Watch out!"
请朝前走，到路口再左转。
Please walk straight ahead, then turn left at the intersection.
她朝窗外看了看。
She looked out the window.
我们的教室朝东，早上阳光很好。
Our classroom faces east, so the morning sunlight is great.
他朝我点了点头。
He nodded at me.
别朝河里扔东西。
Don't throw things into the river.
Common Mistakes
For speech directed at someone, use 对 rather than 朝. 朝 is used for physical direction and actions like shouting, nodding, or waving — not for calm speech.
When using 朝 for orientation, you only need the direction word (南). Adding 面 is redundant because 朝 already establishes the facing relationship.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
When giving directions on the street, 朝 is your go-to word: 朝前走, 朝右转, 朝那个方向.
Remember the feng shui rule 坐北朝南 — it helps you remember that 朝 means "facing."
For physical actions directed at someone (waving, nodding, shouting), use 朝. For speech and communication, use 对.
Practice describing your room or apartment using 朝: 我的窗户朝东, 大门朝北.
Homework
Describe the layout of your home using 朝 for directions (which way each room faces), and write four sentences using 朝 with actions (looking, walking, waving, shouting).