Directional phrases in Chinese

[rtf]

各位好：

 

Could you,guys,just tick off  the following sentences right/wrong,please:

 

 

坐到东边的车

坐去东边的车

坐往东边的车

坐往东边开的车

坐往东边走的车

 

 

多谢。

[chinesemaster]

All correct in daily life.......

[Messidor]

1) 坐到东边的车

2) 坐去东边的车

3) 坐往东边的车

4) 坐往东边开的车

5) 坐往东边走的车

Under the condition that 坐 is the predetermined verb, I would say I heard 2, 4 and 5 the most ---- and there can be 6) 坐往东边去的车. 1 and 3 are ambiguous or sound odd here since they are detached from contexts. It's strange to use 到 and 往 to form such structures even in everyday life.

到+东边的 is the prepositional phrase used adjectively in 1; but when there's a verb precedes 到, 到 is usually attached to the verb rather grouped exclusively with those words follow itself, for example, 坐到东边的站点再下车, it is parsed as 坐<到>(东边的)站点再下车, 到 is the mark of complement(东边的站点), the connector between the verb and additional information(/introducer of additional information). As with 往, it's commonly used as 开往××的车即将到站, 往 is also the mark of complement.

[rtf]

^ Thanks, Messidor. Gorgeous explanation,as usual.

 

 

 

1 and 3 are ambiguous or sound odd here since they are detached from contexts

 

 

I guess I know what you mean. 1 and 3 could be much less ambiguous in sentences like  昨天我坐到东边的车来北京 /   

昨天我坐往东边的车来北京 – ‘Yesterday I came to Beijing on a train going east’

 

 

Thanks again.

[yifeng]

To say "train going east", 东行列车 may be more common, in which 行 means "go".

 

东边 often indicates a position, e.g.,东边的村庄、难民逃往东边

 

To mean a direction of movement, 向东、往东、朝东 are more concise, especially when used as an adjective to modify a noun, e.g. 向东的洪水、往东的车流

 

Hope this helps.

[rtf]

^ It does.Thanks,yifeng.