‘向往’ is a verb meaning ‘to yearn for’, ‘to long for’, or ‘to aspire to’. It expresses a deep, positive emotional desire—often for something idealized, distant, or not yet attained—such as a place, lifestyle, value, or future state. The character 向 (xiàng) means ‘toward’ or ‘in the direction of’, while 往 (wǎng) means ‘to go’ or ‘to head toward’; together, they vividly convey the sense of mentally or emotionally moving toward something desirable.

This word carries a gentle, poetic, and somewhat literary tone—it’s common in writing, speeches, and formal or reflective speech, but less frequent in casual daily talk (where 想要 or 希望 may be preferred). It often implies admiration, hope, or idealism rather than urgent need or urgency. People commonly use it when expressing aspirations about life goals, travel dreams, social ideals, or personal growth.