toward(s)
toward(s) — 介系詞
1. showing the direction of movement from one place to another — for example, walki
朝向
表示移動的方向
showing the direction of movement from one place to another — for example, walking toward a door or turning to face toward the speaker.
Camila walked toward the library with her backpack swinging.
Camila 揹著晃動的背包走向圖書館。
toward + noun phrase indicating physical direction
A small boat drifted slowly toward the harbour entrance.
一艘小船緩緩漂向港口入口。
Reuben glanced toward the window when he heard the rain start.
Reuben 聽到雨聲，便朝窗戶瞥了一眼。
The children waved as the train moved toward the station platform.
孩子們向駛向月台的火車揮手。
Linh pointed toward the tall building at the end of the street.
Linh 指向街道盡頭那棟高樓。
- to
toward(s) emphasises direction without necessarily reaching the destination; 'to' often implies arrival.
- in the direction of
more formal and explicit, used in technical or written contexts
- away from
opposite direction of movement
文法句型
toward(s) + noun phrase
用法筆記
In American English the form toward is more common; in British English towards is more frequent. The meaning is identical.
常見錯誤
2. used to say how a person feels, behaves, or thinks about someone or something —
對待
表示對某人或某事的態度
used to say how a person feels, behaves, or thinks about someone or something — for example, kindness toward a neighbour, anger toward a policy, or a positive attitude toward change.
Anjali has always shown great kindness toward her younger brother.
Anjali 對她的弟弟一向非常體貼。
noun + toward = attitude direction
Joshua felt a lot of anger toward the company that laid him off.
Joshua 對解僱他的公司感到非常憤怒。
The government's attitude toward education funding has shifted completely.
政府對教育經費的態度已經完全改變。
Sirin's feelings toward her new job were mixed at first.
Sirin 對新工作的感受起初很矛盾。
The teacher's behaviour toward the shy student was patient and warm.
那位老師對害羞的學生態度耐心而溫暖。
- with regard to
more formal and used in writing
- about
informal; 'about' is less precise for interpersonal attitudes
- regarding
formal, used in official or business contexts
文法句型
feeling/attitude + toward(s) + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common after nouns and adjectives describing feelings or behaviour: 'attitude toward', 'feelings toward', 'kind toward', 'hostile toward'. Unlike the direction sense, this sense always involves a person, group, or abstract target.
常見錯誤
3. used to show that money, time, or effort is given as help or partial payment for
用於
作為幫助或部分支付
used to show that money, time, or effort is given as help or partial payment for a particular purpose — for example, saving money toward a car or donating time toward a project.
Amira saved two hundred dollars each month toward a new laptop.
Amira 每個月存兩百美元，準備買新筆電。
save + money + toward(s) + goal
All the money from the bake sale goes toward buying new library books.
烘焙義賣的所有收入都將用於購買新的圖書館藏書。
The government gave the city funds toward building a new school wing.
政府撥款給該市，用於建造新校舍。
Ziad put his entire bonus toward paying off his student loan early.
Ziad 把整筆獎金用來提前還清學生貸款。
The charity donation went toward feeding homeless families during winter.
慈善捐款用於在冬天為無家可歸的家庭提供食物。
- for
simpler but less specific toward a purpose; 'toward' emphasises incremental progress
- in support of
more formal, used in written contexts
文法句型
money/effort + toward(s) + noun phrase
用法筆記
The object is usually a goal or purpose that requires money or effort. Can be followed by a noun or the -ing form of a verb.
常見錯誤
4. at a point near or close to something in a particular direction — used to descri
靠近
在靠近某物的位置
at a point near or close to something in a particular direction — used to describe where something sits or is placed.
Their house is set back toward the far end of the lane.
他們的房子坐落在小徑深處靠近盡頭的位置。
toward indicating position, not movement
The sofa faces toward the fireplace so the room feels cosy.
沙發面向壁爐，讓房間感覺很溫馨。
Ignacio parked his scooter toward the rear of the garage.
Ignacio 把機車停在車庫靠近後方的地方。
A small wooden bench stood toward the top of the garden hill.
一張小木椅立於花園山坡靠近頂端的位置。
- far from
distant in position
文法句型
toward(s) + noun phrase (position)
用法筆記
This sense describes a static position, not movement. It often appears with verbs that describe location or placement such as 'sit', 'stand', 'face', 'be situated'.
5. near and approaching a particular point in time — such as toward evening, toward
接近
接近某個時間點
near and approaching a particular point in time — such as toward evening, toward midnight, or toward the end of a meeting.
The party wound down toward midnight and guests began to leave.
派對在接近午夜時漸漸散場，客人們開始離去。
toward + specific time
Toward the end of the film, the audience started crying.
接近電影尾聲時，觀眾開始流淚。
The temperature dropped sharply toward the late afternoon.
接近傍晚時，氣溫急遽下降。
Traffic always gets heavier toward the start of the rush hour.
接近尖峰時間開始時，交通總是變得更加擁擠。
- near
simpler and more common for time; toward(s) adds a sense of progression
- close to
informal, same approximate meaning
- approaching
emphasises the movement through time
- after
later than a time point
文法句型
toward(s) + time expression
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'the end of', 'the beginning of', or times of day. Unlike 'by' or 'before', toward(s) suggests an approach without specifying the exact boundary.
常見錯誤
toward(s) — 形容詞
- toward(s)positive
- more toward(s)comparative
- most toward(s)superlative
1. likely to happen very soon — used in literary or formal writing about events tha
將至
即將發生的（文學用語）
likely to happen very soon — used in literary or formal writing about events that feel imminent.
With winter toward, the farmers brought all the animals inside the barn.
冬天將至，農夫們把所有牲畜趕進穀倉。
The old sailor sensed a violent storm was toward by the shift in the wind.
老水手從風向的轉變看出猛烈的暴風雨即將來臨。
be + toward = be imminent (literary)
As the wedding date was toward, the whole village buzzed with excitement.
婚期將近，整個村子洋溢著興奮的氣氛。
The villagers stocked extra firewood when they sensed hard winter was toward.
村民們察覺寒冬將至，便多囤了一些柴火。
- imminent
the most common modern equivalent; 'toward' is archaic
- approaching
more widely understood in current English
- coming
simple and natural in everyday language
- distant
far off in time
文法句型
be + toward
用法筆記
Almost exclusively found in older or literary English. In modern everyday speech, 'imminent', 'coming', or 'approaching' are used instead.
2. already taking place or being carried out at the present moment — used in litera
進行中
正在發生的（文學用語）
already taking place or being carried out at the present moment — used in literary contexts to describe an event or process that is under way.
The work on the new bridge is toward and should finish by spring.
新橋的工程正在進行，預計春天前完工。
be + toward = be in progress
Plans are toward for a grand celebration of the town's anniversary.
正在籌劃鎮週年慶的大型慶祝活動。
The harvest was already toward when the first frost hit the valley.
第一次霜凍降臨山谷時，收割工作已經開始。
Preparations for the royal visit were toward throughout the palace.
皇宮上下正在為王室來訪做準備。
- afoot
the closest synonym, also somewhat literary
- under way
common in modern English for ongoing processes
- in progress
formal but widely used
- completed
already finished
文法句型
be + toward
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. 'Afoot', 'under way', 'in progress', or 'happening' are the contemporary alternatives.
3. naturally able to learn new skills or subjects quickly and easily — used in olde
好學
學習能力很快的（古語）
naturally able to learn new skills or subjects quickly and easily — used in older or literary English about a person's aptitude.
The young apprentice was toward in learning the blacksmith's trade.
那位年輕學徒學習鐵匠手藝時進步很快。
be + toward + in + skill/field
Of all the students in the class, Linh was the most toward in mathematics.
全班同學中，Linh 在數學方面的領悟力最強。
The old teacher recalled how toward the boy had been with languages.
老老師回憶起那孩子在語言方面有多麼有天分。
A toward child can master new instruments faster than most adults expect.
好學的孩子學習新樂器的速度往往超乎大人的預期。
- slow
slow to learn or understand
文法句型
be + toward + in + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is archaic. In modern English, use 'apt', 'quick', 'bright', or 'gifted' instead. It is almost never used in spoken conversation.
4. producing a helpful or lucky outcome — used in older or formal English to descri
有利
帶來好結果的（文學用語）
producing a helpful or lucky outcome — used in older or formal English to describe conditions or signs that favour a particular result.
The weather was toward for the sailing race, with a steady wind.
帆船比賽的天氣很有利，風勢穩定。
The farmer considered the spring rains a toward sign for the crops.
農夫認為春天的雨水對作物是吉兆。
toward + noun = favourable (literary)
A toward breeze helped the ship reach port before the storm hit.
一陣順風幫助船隻在暴風雨來臨前抵達港口。
The council saw the rising attendance as a toward development for the town.
市議會將出席率上升視為城鎮發展的好現象。
- favourable
the direct modern equivalent
- promising
common and natural in everyday English
- propitious
formal and literary, close in register to 'toward'
- unfavourable
not helpful or advantageous
文法句型
toward + noun
用法筆記
Almost entirely replaced by 'favourable', 'promising', or 'propitious' in modern English. This sense survives mostly in historical or literary texts.