Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of spatial layout to navigate your world with confidence and precision.
- Position objects correctly using Chinese post-positions.
- Identify the relationship between locations and landmarks.
- Describe your surroundings accurately in everyday scenarios.
学べること
Hey there! You’ve already built a solid foundation in Chinese, right? Awesome! Now it's time to tackle something super practical and exciting: precisely describing where things are. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use essential Chinese location words like ش (shàng) for on or above, 下 (xià) for under or below, 里 (lǐ) for in or inside, and 外 (wài) for outside. The cool thing about Chinese is that these location words always come *after* the noun they refer to. So, you’ll be saying table on instead of on the table. We'll then move on to 旁边 (pángbiān) for next to or beside, 前面 (qiánmiàn) for in front, and 后面 (hòumiàn) for behind. Once you get the hang of their placement, you’re all set! Imagine you’re trying to ask for directions in a bustling Chinese city, or your friend asks where your book is. How would you say
the bookstore is in front of the subwayor
my phone is behind that vase? Without these words, you’d be pretty stuck! This skill is crucial for everyday conversations. By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to confidently describe the position of any object or place, navigate with ease, and never have trouble explaining where things are. Let's go, you've got this!
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中国語の場所を表す言葉：「上・〜の上で」(shàng)中国語で「〜の上」と言いたい時は、名詞のすぐ後ろに «上» を置くだけでOKです！
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場所の言葉: 下 (xià) - した中国語の場所の言葉は、名詞の「後ろ」に置くのが鉄則です。「机の下」なら «桌子下面» のように「机 ＋ 下」の順番で覚えましょう！
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場所の「中」を表す (里 - lǐ)名詞の後に «里» (lǐ) を付けるだけで「〜の中」という意味になります。地名には使わないのがポイント！ «里» をマスターして表現を広げましょう。
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場所の単語：外 (wài) - 外名詞のあとに「外」をくっつけるだけで、どこかの「外側」を表現できます。 «外» «外面» «以外» が使い分けのポイントです。
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〜の隣・そば (旁边 - pángbiān)「Aの隣」と言いたい時は「A + 旁边 (pángbiān)」の形を作るだけ！ «旁边» を後ろに置くのがルールだよ。
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中国語の場所を表す言葉：「前」(前面)「〜の前」と言いたい時は、場所のあとに «前面» を置くだけ！英語とは逆の語順で «学校 前面» のように覚えるのがコツですよ。
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場所の言葉：后面 (hòumiàn) - 後ろ基準になるものの「後ろ」に置くだけ！ «后面» はいつも最後です。
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Describe the location of household items using 'on', 'under', and 'inside'.
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2
By the end you will be able to: Give simple street directions using 'next to', 'in front', and 'behind'.
チャプターガイド
Overview
Finding Your Way, a super practical chapter designed to boost your Chinese grammar A2 skills. You've already built an amazing foundation, and now it's time to get specific about where things are.on, under, in, out, next to, in front, and behind. This isn't just academic; it's crucial for everyday life in a Chinese-speaking environment. Imagine trying to find a restaurant, describe where you left your keys, or understand directions – without these words, you'd be pretty lost! The cool thing about learning Chinese location words is their consistent structure.on the table, you'll learn to say table on. By the end of this guide, you’ll be confidently describing the position of any object or place, making your A2 Chinese communication much clearer and more natural. Let’s dive in and unlock this vital skill!How This Grammar Works
on the table, you’ll think table on.on or above.under or below.in or inside.outside.next to or beside.in front.behind.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong: 书在上桌子 (Shū zài shàng zhuōzi.)
- 1✗ Wrong: 我在里 (Wǒ zài lǐ.)
in or inside, it usually needs a preceding noun to specify *what* it's inside of. Just saying 里 by itself without context is uncommon and can sound incomplete. Always try to attach it to a noun, like 房间 (fángjiān) for room.
Real Conversations
A
(Did you see my keys?)
B
(Hmm, it's on top of the table.)
A
(Where is the library?)
B
(It's behind the school, next to the bank.)
A
(Is my phone in the bag?)
B
(No, it's outside, maybe in the car.)
Quick FAQ
How do you say on the chair in Chinese, and why is it different from English?
You say 椅子上 (yǐzi shàng). It's different because Chinese places the location word 上 (shàng) *after* the noun 椅子 (yǐzi), following a Noun + Location Word structure, rather than the English preposition + Noun structure.
Can I use 里面 (lǐmiàn) instead of 里 (lǐ), and 外面 (wàimiàn) instead of 外 (wài)?
Yes, absolutely! 里面 (lǐmiàn) and 外面 (wàimiàn) are often used interchangeably with 里 (lǐ) and 外 (wài), respectively. The added 面 (miàn), meaning side or face, just adds a bit more emphasis on the inside or outside aspect, and can sound slightly more complete, especially when used alone.
Is it always necessary to use 在 (zài) before the noun + location word phrase in Chinese?
Not always, but it's very common and often necessary to indicate *where* something is located. 在 (zài) means
to be at/in/on.So, «书在桌子上» (Shū zài zhuōzi shàng) means
The book *is on* the table.If you omit 在, the meaning changes or becomes grammatically incorrect in most location contexts.
Are there other common Chinese directional words besides 前面 (qiánmiàn) and 后面 (hòumiàn)?
Yes, there are! For example, 左边 (zuǒbiān) for left side and 右边 (yòubiān) for right side are very common. There's also 中间 (zhōngjiān) for middle or between. These follow the same Noun + Location Word structure.
Cultural Context
重要な例文 (4)
ヒントとコツ (4)
都市名には使わない！
時間の重力
グループチャットの定番
会話では「外面」がおすすめ
重要な語彙 (7)
Real-World Preview
Finding a Lost Phone
Review Summary
- Noun + 上 (shàng)
- Noun + 下 (xià)
- Noun + 里 (lǐ)
- Noun + 外 (wài)
- Noun + 旁边 (pángbiān)
- Noun + 前面 (qiánmiàn)
- Noun + 后面 (hòumiàn)
よくある間違い
English speakers often put the preposition before the noun. In Chinese, the location word MUST come after the noun.
Confusing the order of the object and the location. You are describing the table's surface, so 'table' comes first.
With large geographical locations like countries or cities, we usually don't use '里(lǐ)'. Just use '在(zài) + Place'.
このチャプターのルール (7)
Next Steps
You're doing amazing! You've just unlocked the ability to navigate a Chinese city and describe your home. Keep up the momentum!
Label your room
Hide an object and describe its location to a partner
クイック練習 (6)
{钱|qián}{里|lǐ}{钱包|qiánbāo}{在|zài}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 場所の「中」を表す (里 - lǐ)
{我|wǒ} {在|zài} {学|xué} {校|xiào} ___ {等|děng} {你|nǐ}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜の隣・そば (旁边 - pángbiān)
文法的に正しいものを選びましょう：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜の隣・そば (旁边 - pángbiān)
Find and fix the mistake:
{旁|páng} {边|biān} {你|nǐ} {是|shì} {谁|shuí}？
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 〜の隣・そば (旁边 - pángbiān)
文法的に正しいものを選びましょう：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 場所の「中」を表す (里 - lǐ)
{书|shū}{在|zài}{包|bāo}___。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 場所の「中」を表す (里 - lǐ)
Score: /6
