Usage note
朝表示向着某个方向，也可表示朝代。
cháo biǎo shì xiàng zhe mǒu gè fāng xiàng， yě kě biǎo shì cháo dài。
朝 means toward a direction, or a dynasty.
Context note
这里主要用作方向。
zhè lǐ zhǔ yào yòng zuò fāng xiàng。
Here it mainly means direction.
5 examples
朝前走。
cháo qián zǒu。
Walk forward.
他朝门口看。
tā cháo mén kǒu kàn。
He looked toward the door.
朝右转。
cháo yòu zhuǎn。
Turn right.
阳光朝这边照。
yáng guāng cháo zhè biān zhào。
The sunlight shines this way.
大家朝一个方向走。
dà jiā cháo yí gè fāng xiàng zǒu。
Everyone walks in one direction.
5 mini stories
他朝窗外看了一眼。
tā cháo chuāng wài kàn le yì yǎn。
He took a look toward the window.
孩子朝妈妈跑过去。
hái zi cháo mā ma pǎo guò qù。
The child ran toward Mom.
鸟朝天空飞去。
niǎo cháo tiān kōng fēi qù。
The bird flew toward the sky.
老师让大家朝黑板看。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā cháo hēi bǎn kàn。
The teacher asked everyone to look toward the blackboard.
我们朝着目标前进。
wǒ men cháo zhe mù biāo qián jìn。
We move toward the goal.
Mini dialogue
学校方向
A
学校朝哪个方向走？
Xuéxiào cháo nǎge fāngxiàng zǒu?
Which direction is the school toward?
B
朝东走，很快就到了。
Cháo dōng zǒu, hěn kuài jiù dào le.
Go toward the east, you'll be there soon.
窗户朝向
A
你的房间窗户朝南吗？
Nǐ de fángjiān chuānghu cháo nán ma?
Does your room window face toward the south?
B
对，朝南，阳光很好。
Duì, cháo nán, yángguāng hěn hǎo.
Yes, toward the south, the sunlight is very good.
Related words and contrasts
similar
向
xiàng
towards
Both mean direction. 朝 is more about facing; 向 is more about moving towards.
contrast
对
duì
to; at
对 can also show direction, but is often used for 'to' a person. 朝 is for physical direction.
related
方向
fāngxiàng
direction
朝 is used with a 方向 (direction), like 朝东 (facing east).