向 + Direction / Person + Verb (towards)
IntroducedAn apology has a recipient
- You apologise to a friend rather than travel toward the friend.
- I / me我towards向him他to apologize道歉。 — towards向him他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed.
You apologise to a friend rather than travel toward the friend. What does 我向他道歉。 communicate?
向他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed. 向 works with physical directions and abstract targets. 向他学习 names a model to learn from; it does not mean physically walking toward him.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is towards向 + Direction / Person + Verb (towards). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
towards向left左turn转。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Turn left: ____ 左转。
向 + Direction + Verb: 向左转 (turn left).
Read examples in context
we我们towards向him他learn学习。
- In the opening example, I / me我towards向him他to apologize道歉。: towards向him他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 向他学习 mean?
向 + Person + Verb: 向他学习 = learn from him.
Build: “We learn from him.”
Subj + 向 + Person + Verb: 我们 + 向他 + 学习.
Know the boundary
- towards向 works with physical directions and abstract targets.
- towards向him他learn学习 names a model to learn from; it does not mean physically walking toward him.
向 sets the direction or target the action faces.
Yes: 向左 (towards the left), 向他 (towards him).
In the opening situation: 向他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed.
向 works with physical directions and abstract targets. 向他学习 names a model to learn from; it does not mean physically walking toward him. 向他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed.
Use the distinction
- towards向him他 identifies the person to whom the apology is directed.
- towards向 works with physical directions and abstract targets. towards向him他learn学习 names a model to learn from; it does not mean physically walking toward him.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Prepositions.
You apologise to a friend rather than travel toward the friend. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.