向
xiàng · HSK 2
towards
➡️ Oracle bone: a house 宀 with a window 口 facing outward — 'toward'
向 originally showed a north-facing window in a house, hence the sense of orientation or direction. Today it means 'toward' or 'to' — the direction something faces or moves.
向 — roof 宀 + mouth 口
Originally a pictograph of a house with a north-facing window, showing an opening in a wall under a roof. The early meaning was 'north window,' which extended to 'the direction something faces,' then broadly to 'toward' or 'direction.' The modern shape simplified the window into 口.