Site Feedback

Resolved questions
What is the difference between 向 and 到?

For learning: Chinese (Mandarin)
Base language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Category: Language

Share:

2 comments

    Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.

     

    Answers

    Sort by:

    Best Answer - Chosen by the Asker
    When talking about direction, “向” emphasizes the start or process, while “到” emphasizes the result of action:

    向前进,向后转,“问君能有几多愁,恰似一江春水向东流”
    到前面去,到后边去,到学校去,到生活中去

    When talking about the direction itself, only “向” is applicable:

    方向,指向,江河流向,性取向

    When talking about arrival or till, only “到” is applicable:

    到达,到站,到了,到学校了,皇上驾到
    直到,爱你到永远,打破沙锅问到底,到明天,到那时,到时候

    When talking about enough,only “到” is applicable:

    功夫不到,火候不到

    When talking about successfulness, only “到” is applicable:

    找不到目标,找不到妈妈,买不到火车票,得到,“只有想不到,没有办不到”

    When talking about completness, only “到” is applicable:

    周到,面面俱到,照顾不到


    At last, both "向" and "到" can be the lastname of a person.

    Even though they can be used to mean virtually the same thing, 向 is used to express _direction_, whereas 到 is used to express _destiniation_。向is more like "towards" and 到 as a verb means "arrive" so you get the idea.
    Ex:
    到公园去。Go to the park.
    向公园走。Walk towards the park.

    "向" emphasize the direction and the process of going towards someplace, for example : 他正向商店走去 --he is walking towards the store; 汽车准备向右转 -- The bus was to turn right.
    "到" emphasize a certain time point not a period, like "你到哪里了"--where are u now?, means where you have arrived right now, a specific place. and "你到家了吗?" -- have you arrived home yet?

    Submit your answer


    Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.

    If you copy this answer from another italki answer page, please state the URL of where you got your answer from.