Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Chinese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about wǎng xī zǒu.
What does 往 do in this sentence?
往 is a preposition here. It means toward / in the direction of.
So the structure is:
往 + direction + verb
In this sentence:
- 往西 = toward the west / westward
- 走 = go, walk
So 往西走 literally means walk/go toward the west.
Why is the word order 往西走 instead of 走往西?
In Mandarin, direction phrases like this usually come before the main verb.
The pattern is:
往 + place/direction + verb
So:
- 往西走 = go west
- 往前看 = look forward
- 往北开 = drive north
English often puts the direction after the verb (go west), but Chinese commonly puts it before the verb in this kind of structure.
Does 走 mean walk or go here?