When you want to say something is next to another thing, you use となり (tonari). It's a useful word for describing locations.
For example, if you want to say 'The bank is next to the post office,' you would use となり. It's a simple way to give directions or describe where something is located.
Think of it as a basic building block for talking about spatial relationships in Japanese.
Let's learn how to use the Japanese word となり (tonari), which means "next to." This is a super useful word for describing locations.
§ Understanding となり (tonari)
となり (tonari) directly translates to "next to" or "neighboring." It refers to something immediately beside another thing, often without a lot of space in between. Think of it like someone sitting right beside you, or a building right next to another one.
- Japanese Word
- となり (tonari)
- Meaning
- next to, neighboring
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ Basic Sentence Structure with となり (tonari)
The most common way to use となり (tonari) is with the particle の (no) to show possession or relationship. It's like saying "[Thing 1]'s next to [Thing 2]."
- [Noun 1] の となり (no tonari): next to [Noun 1]
私のとなりに座ってください。
Please sit next to me.
駅のとなりにあります。
It is next to the station.
§ Using Particles with となり (tonari)
You'll often see となり (tonari) combined with other particles to specify the action or state related to being "next to."
- となり に (tonari ni): indicates location or direction towards something next to.
コンビニは銀行のとなりにあります。
The convenience store is next to the bank.
彼のとなりに座った。
I sat next to him.
- となり を (tonari o): indicates passing by or crossing the area next to something.
彼女のとなりを通り過ぎた。
I walked past next to her (i.e., I walked past the area right beside her).
- となり の (tonari no): This particle links となり to another noun, acting like an adjective.
隣の席は空いていますか。
Is the next seat empty?
私の隣の家は大きいです。
The house next to mine is big.
§ となり (tonari) vs. 横 (yoko)
A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between となり (tonari) and 横 (yoko), which also means "side" or "beside."
- となり (tonari): Emphasizes direct adjacency, often implying a similar kind of object (e.g., house next to house, person next to person). It suggests a "neighboring" relationship.
- 横 (yoko): Refers to the side of something, without necessarily implying direct adjacency or a similar object. It can be used more broadly.
田中さんのとなりの人は誰ですか。
Who is the person next to (neighboring) Tanaka-san?
机の横に椅子があります。
There is a chair beside (to the side of) the desk.
Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll get the hang of となり (tonari) in no time. It's a fundamental word for describing locations in Japanese!
§ となり vs. よこ (yoko)
Many learners confuse となり (tonari) and よこ (yoko). While both can mean 'next to' or 'side', they have important differences.
- DEFINITION
- となり (tonari): 'next to', specifically implying an adjacent position without space in between, often with a sense of being of the same kind or purpose.
- DEFINITION
- よこ (yoko): 'side', referring to the general side of something, and can imply a space between objects. It's more about the direction or general vicinity.
Think of it this way: if you're talking about two houses right next to each other, sharing a wall, you'd use となり. If you're talking about a car parked on the side of the road, you'd use よこ.
私の家は駅のとなりです。(My house is next to the station. - implying direct adjacency)
道のよこに車が止まっています。(A car is parked on the side of the road. - not necessarily touching)
§ となり with inanimate objects
While となり is frequently used for people and buildings, it can also be used for inanimate objects, especially when emphasizing a direct, side-by-side arrangement. However, some learners might default to other location words unnecessarily.
Correct:
ペンはノートのとなりにあります。(The pen is next to the notebook. - implying they are right beside each other.)
Less natural if there's space (but not strictly wrong, just less precise):
ペンはノートのよこにあります。(The pen is by the side of the notebook. - allows for some distance)
The key is the nuance of immediate adjacency. If something is truly directly beside another, となり is very natural, regardless of whether it's animate or inanimate. If it's just 'in the vicinity' or 'to the side', よこ might be more appropriate.
§ Forgetting the particle の (no)
Like many location words, となり requires the particle の (no) when connecting to the noun it describes. Forgetting this is a common grammatical error.
Incorrect:
コンビニ となり に行きました。(I went next to the convenience store.)
Correct:
コンビニのとなりに行きました。(I went next to the convenience store.)
Always remember to include the particle の between the noun and となり to properly form the phrase 'X's next door/next to X'.
Tipps
Basic use of となり
「となり」 directly translates to next to. It indicates something is immediately adjacent. For example, 「わたしの となり」 means next to me.
Particles with となり
When using となり, you often see the particle 「の」 to connect it to a noun (e.g., 「えきの となり」 - next to the station) or 「に」 to indicate location (e.g., 「いすが となりに あります」 - a chair is next to it).
Contextual meaning
While usually meaning immediately next to, depending on context, it can sometimes mean nearby, but the primary meaning is direct adjacency. Think of it as a very close neighbor.
Common phrases with となり
You'll often hear phrases like 「となりの へや」 (the next room) or 「となりの ひと」 (the person next to me/you). These are very common.
Don't confuse with ちかく (near)
「となり」 is more specific than 「ちかく」 (near). 「ちかく」 can mean a general vicinity, while 「となり」 implies direct contact or immediate adjacency.
Practice with objects
Point to an object and say 「これは ペンの となりです」 (This is next to the pen) to practice. This hands-on method helps reinforce the meaning.
Use with places
「コンビニは えきの となりです」 (The convenience store is next to the station). Practice describing the location of places using となり.
Listen for it in dialogues
Pay attention to how native speakers use 「となり」 in movies, anime, or podcasts. You'll notice its frequent appearance when describing proximity.
Slight nuance with よこ (side)
While 「となり」 is generally next to, 「よこ」 (side) can sometimes be used similarly. However, 「となり」 emphasizes being the neighboring entity, whereas 「よこ」 focuses on the physical side. Often interchangeable, but 「となり」 implies a more established 'next-ness'.
Create your own examples
Make up sentences using things around you. 「わたしの くるまの となりに きが あります」 (There is a tree next to my car). The more you create, the better you'll remember.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a 'TON' of 'ARI' (ants) always moving to the spot 'next to' their leader.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture two distinct objects, like a coffee cup and a laptop, placed directly side-by-side, visually representing 'next to'. You could also think of the 'to' in 'tonari' as a pointer, indicating something is 'to' the side of another.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe objects in your room using 'となり'. For example, 'テレビは窓のとなりです' (The TV is next to the window).
Teste dich selbst 18 Fragen
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: 彼の家の___、公園があります。(Kare no ie no ___, kōen ga arimasu. - There is a park next to his house.)
When expressing location relative to something, 'に' is often used after 'となり'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'となり' to mean 'next to'?
The particle 'で' is used here to indicate the location where the action of sitting occurs.
What is the English translation of: 銀行のとなりはカフェです。(Ginkō no tonari wa kafe desu.)
The sentence states that the place 'next to the bank' (銀行のとなり) 'is a cafe' (はカフェです).
「私のとなり」 (watashi no tonari) means 'in front of me'.
「私のとなり」 means 'next to me', not 'in front of me'. 'In front of me' would be 「私の前」 (watashi no mae).
You can use 「となり」 to describe a person sitting beside you.
「となり」 is commonly used to describe someone or something immediately adjacent, like a person sitting next to you.
「となり」 can be used interchangeably with 「中」 (naka) to mean 'inside'.
「となり」 means 'next to', while 「中」 means 'inside'. They have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼女は私の___に座っています。
「となり」means 'next to', which fits the context of someone sitting beside you. 「なか」means 'inside', 「うえ」means 'on/above', and 「した」means 'under/below'.
Which sentence correctly uses 「となり」?
「となり」is used to describe the location of something being next to another thing. The other options use 「となり」incorrectly.
Select the sentence that implies physical proximity using 「となり」.
This sentence directly states that a convenience store is located next to the station, indicating physical proximity. The other options use 「となり」in ways that don't relate to physical location.
「となり」can be used to describe someone living in the house adjacent to yours.
「となり」is commonly used to refer to a neighboring house or person, implying they are 'next door'. For example, となりの家 (next door house) or となりの人 (person next door).
When referring to two objects of the same type side-by-side, 「となり」is always interchangeable with 「そば」.
While both indicate proximity, 「となり」specifically means 'next to' in a linear or adjacent sense, often implying a shared boundary or immediate adjacency. 「そば」is more general, meaning 'near' or 'by', and can imply a slightly less direct adjacency or a wider area of proximity.
You can use 「となり」to describe the next item in a sequence, like 'the next day'.
「となり」refers to physical adjacency or an immediate neighbor. For 'the next day' or 'the next item in a sequence', words like 「次 (つぎ)」or 「次の日 (つぎのひ)」would be used.
Choose the most natural sentence using となり:
となり is often used to describe location relative to something else. '彼の家は私のとなりです' is a natural usage.
Which sentence correctly uses となり with a particle?
となりに is commonly used to indicate location when an action occurs. '彼女は私のとなりに座った' is correct.
Select the sentence where となり refers to an adjacent building or property:
となりの店 (tonari no mise) clearly refers to a shop in an adjacent location, which aligns with 'next to' meaning an adjacent building or property.
The sentence '彼は私のとなりです' (Kare wa watashi no tonari desu) means 'He is next to me.'
This sentence correctly uses となり to indicate that someone is in an adjacent position.
You can use となり to describe someone being emotionally close to you, not just physically.
となり primarily describes physical proximity. For emotional closeness, other expressions like '心の友' (kokoro no tomo - close friend) or 'そばにいる' (soba ni iru - to be by one's side, often with emotional nuance) would be more appropriate.
In 'となりの犬が吠えている' (Tonari no inu ga hoe te iru), となり refers to a dog that is literally beside the speaker.
In this context, となり refers to the dog belonging to the next-door neighbor or in an adjacent area, not necessarily a dog right beside the speaker.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of となり
「となり」 directly translates to next to. It indicates something is immediately adjacent. For example, 「わたしの となり」 means next to me.
Particles with となり
When using となり, you often see the particle 「の」 to connect it to a noun (e.g., 「えきの となり」 - next to the station) or 「に」 to indicate location (e.g., 「いすが となりに あります」 - a chair is next to it).
Contextual meaning
While usually meaning immediately next to, depending on context, it can sometimes mean nearby, but the primary meaning is direct adjacency. Think of it as a very close neighbor.
Common phrases with となり
You'll often hear phrases like 「となりの へや」 (the next room) or 「となりの ひと」 (the person next to me/you). These are very common.
Beispiel
私のとなりには友だちが座っています。
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いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
