XIANG-4

('xiang' in the fourth tone)

There are some 37 standard Chinese characters that are spoken 'xiang'. The following sound-determining elements are part of more complicated 'xiang'-spoken characters: 相 , 向 , 乡

向 = direction, towards

The two-character version is much more common:

方向 = fang(1)xiang(4) = direction, towards

向上 = xiang(4)shang(4) = upwards (in a computer directory structure), make progress

In the meaning 'make progress', 向上 is rather formal. Colloqial Chinese would use:

进步 = jin(4) bu(4)

You could see the following written on a banner at a school:

好妤学习, 天天向上. = Hao(3)hao(3) xue(2)xi(4), tian(1)tian(1) xiang(4)shang(4). = Study hard, every day make progress.

However, when a member of the older generation admonishes a young student, he or she would say:

好妤学习, 天天进步. = Hao(3)hao(3) xue(2)xi(4), tian(1)tian(1) jin(4)bu(4). = Study hard, every day make progress.

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相 = xiang(4) = appearance (of a person)

Please note that this character can also be spoken in the first tone, and then means 'each other'. 

照相 = zhao(4) xiang(4) = to take pictures

照 = zhao(4) = to take pictures

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象 = elephant, appearance, image

对象 = dui(4)xiang(4) = object, partner in a love affair, boyfriend, girlfriend

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项 = (classifier for itemised things, such as mail in an inbox)