Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
向xiàngtowards
向 is a single shape of 6 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from a house with a window 口: facing, towards.
来láito come
未part of the character
丷eight form of 八 · bā
Memory aidDrawn from a stalk of wheat. It was borrowed early on for “to come”.
How to write 向来
向 6 strokes · 来 7 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 向来 (xiànglái). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
向来 (xiànglái) means “always” or “all along”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it xiànglái: xiàng with a 4th tone, then lái with a 2nd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 向来 is written 向來. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type xianglai with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 向来 from the suggestions. Typing xianglai into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
向来 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences written by WillyChina. Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
向xiàng4th tone, falling
来lái2nd tone, rising
