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向 — towards; to face; to turn towards

towards; to face; to turn towards; direction; to support

Pinyin
xiàng · Xiàng
Strokes
6
HSK level
HSK 3
Handwriting
required

This character has more than one reading — xiàng, Xiàng — and the pronunciation depends on the word it appears in. The list below gives the syllabus reading for each word.

How to write 向: 6 strokes

Each cell adds one stroke to the previous ones, with the new stroke in red. Stroke order is not decoration: it sets the proportions of the character and makes handwriting legible to a reader. This character is on the HSK handwriting list, so the exam expects you to write it, not only recognise it.

向 — 6 strokes, in writing order from left to right.

Build a printable practice sheet with 向

Words with 向 in the HSK syllabus: 26

Every word in the official 2026 syllabus that contains this character, with the level it is introduced at. Learning a character pays off through these: each one combines with the characters you already know.

  1. 方向fāngxiàngdirection; orientationHSK 3
  2. 向xiàngtowards; to face; to turn towards; directionHSK 3
  3. 面向miànxiàngto face; to turn towards; geared towards; catering for; -orientedHSK 5
  4. 向上xiàngshàngupward; up; to advance; to try to improve oneselfHSK 5
  5. 倾向qīngxiàngtrend; tendency; orientationHSK 6
  6. 向往xiàngwǎngto yearn for; to look forward toHSK 6
  7. 一向yíxiànga period of time in the recent pastHSK 6
  8. 导向dǎoxiàngto be oriented towards; orientationHSK 7–9
  9. 定向dìngxiàngto orientate; directional; directed; orienteeringHSK 7–9
  10. 动向dòngxiàngtrend; tendencyHSK 7–9
  11. 方向盘fāngxiàngpánsteering wheelHSK 7–9
  12. 横向héngxiànghorizontal; orthogonal; perpendicular; lateralHSK 7–9
  13. 流向liúxiàngdirection of a current; direction of flowHSK 7–9
  14. 内向nèixiàngreserved; introverted; domestic-orientedHSK 7–9
  15. 偏向piānxiàngpartial towards sth; to prefer; to inclineHSK 7–9
  16. 去向qùxiàngdirection in which sb or sth has gone; whereaboutsHSK 7–9
  17. 双向shuāngxiàngbidirectional; two-way; interactiveHSK 7–9
  18. 外向wàixiàngextroverted; export-orientedHSK 7–9
  19. 向导xiàngdǎoguideHSK 7–9
  20. 向来xiàngláialwaysHSK 7–9
  21. 欣欣向荣xīnxīn-xiàngróngflourishing; thrivingHSK 7–9
  22. 意向yìxiàngintention; purpose; intent; inclination; dispositionHSK 7–9
  23. 晕头转向yūntóu-zhuànxiàngconfused and disorientedHSK 7–9
  24. 指向zhǐxiàngto point towards; aimed at; facingHSK 7–9
  25. 志向zhìxiàngambition; goal; ideal; aspirationHSK 7–9
  26. 走向zǒuxiàngdirection; strike; inclination; trendHSK 7–9

Glosses come from CC-CEDICT, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, and are the dictionary’s first sense rather than a translation chosen for context.