向【xiàng】

向 points an action in a direction. Before a direction word it says which way a movement goes; before a person it names who the action is aimed at.

The 向 phrase goes before the verb. A direction word after the verb is the English order.

• × 我们走向左 → 我们向左走

Aimed at a person

向 + person comes before verbs of greeting, apologising, borrowing and learning. It's a little more formal than 跟 or 对.

With 借 and 学习, 向 marks where something comes from, so English says "from".

向 or 往

往 also gives a direction, and it's the more everyday word for movement. It can't aim an action at a person.

• × 我往老师借了一本书 → 我向老师借了一本书

After the verb

In writing, 向 can follow a few verbs of movement with a destination after it: 走向, 飞向, 通向.