Introduction
English puts the position first — on the table. Chinese puts the noun first and hangs the position on the end: 桌子上面 (zhuōzi shàngmiàn) — literally "table top-side". Learn that order and the whole family follows.
Overview
Structure: Noun + [position word]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| N + 上面 / 下面 | 桌子上面 (zhuōzi shàngmiàn) | on the table |
| N + 里面 / 外面 | 书包里面 (shūbāo lǐmiàn) | in the bag |
| N + 前面 / 后面 | 学校前面 (xuéxiào qiánmiàn) | in front of the school |
| N + 左边 / 右边 | 银行右边 (yínháng yòubian) | to the right of the bank |
| 在 + N + position | 书在桌子上。(Shū zài zhuōzi shang.) | The book is on the table. |
The position word comes last, and 面 (miàn) is often dropped:
- ✓ 桌子上面 (zhuōzi shàngmiàn) ✓ 桌子上 (zhuōzi shang) ❌ 上面桌子 (shàngmiàn zhuōzi)
- In everyday speech the short form wins: 书在桌子上。(Shū zài zhuōzi shang.)
- 面 (miàn) and 边 (biān) are interchangeable on most of them — 上面 (shàngmiàn) ／ 上边 (shàngbian) — but 左 (zuǒ) and 右 (yòu) only take 边: ✓ 左边 (zuǒbian) ❌ 左面 is rare.
- Place names take no position word at all: ✓ 在中国 (zài Zhōngguó) ❌ 在中国里 (zài Zhōngguó li).
Examples
书在桌子上。
Shū zài zhuōzi shang.
The book's on the table.
我的手机在书包里面。
Wǒ de shǒujī zài shūbāo lǐmiàn.
My phone's in my bag.
银行在学校前面。
Yínháng zài xuéxiào qiánmiàn.
The bank is in front of the school.
洗手间在右边。
Xǐshǒujiān zài yòubian.
The toilet is on the right.
他坐在我旁边。
Tā zuò zài wǒ pángbiān.
He's sitting next to me.
外面很冷，别出去。
Wàimiàn hěn lěng, bié chūqù.
It's cold outside, don't go out.
Usage Notes
- The full set at this level: 上面 (shàngmiàn)、下面 (xiàmiàn)、里面 (lǐmiàn)、外面 (wàimiàn)、前面 (qiánmiàn)、后面 (hòumiàn)、左边 (zuǒbian)、右边 (yòubian)、旁边 (pángbiān).
- On its own, without a noun in front, a position word is a full noun: 外面很冷。(Wàimiàn hěn lěng.) — It's cold outside.
- To say where something is, use 在 (zài): 书在桌子上。(Shū zài zhuōzi shang.) To say what is somewhere, put the place first: 桌子上有一本书。(Zhuōzi shang yǒu yì běn shū.)
- Countries and cities are already places, so they refuse 里 (li): ✓ 我在中国 (wǒ zài Zhōngguó) ❌ 我在中国里.
- 往 (wǎng) pairs with the bare direction, not the full position word: ✓ 往右拐 (wǎng yòu guǎi) ❌ 往右边拐 is possible but 往右拐 is what people say.