Chinese Vocabulary · 中文词汇
Direction Words in Chinese
方向词汇 fāngxiàng cíhuì
Before we get into the vocab, here’s a small but useful thing to know: there are two different words people use for “turn.” Southerners in China tend to say 拐 (guǎi), while northerners say 转 (zhuǎn). In Taiwan, we also say 转 (zhuǎn) — for example, 前面左转 (qiánmiàn zuǒzhuǎn, turn left up ahead).
Where things are
Basic Direction Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 里面(儿) | lǐmiàn(r) | Inside | 안에 | 內 |
| 外面(儿) | wàimiàn(r) | Outside | 밖에 | 外 |
| 上面(儿) | shàngmiàn(r) | On | 위 | 上 |
| 下面(儿) | xiàmiàn(r) | Under | 아래 | 下 |
| 前面(儿) | qiánmiàn(r) | Front | 앞 | 前 |
| 后面(儿) | hòumiàn(r) | Behind | 뒤 | 後ろ |
| 左边(儿) | zuǒbiān(r) | Left | 왼쪽 | 左 |
| 右边(儿) | yòubiān(r) | Right | 오른쪽 | 右 |
💡 China often adds the erhua sound to these words — 里面儿 (lǐmiànr), 左边儿 (zuǒbiānr) — while Taiwan drops it.
Putting it all together
Examples
你往前面一直走，就會撞到牆！你往前面一直走，就会撞到墙！ If you keep going straight ahead, you’ll hit the wall!
我心裡面永遠有你的位子我心里面永远有你的位子 There will always be a place for you in my heart.
More ways to point things out
Other Direction Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 对面 | duìmiàn | Opposite | 맞은편 | 反対側の |
| 附近 | fùjìn | Nearby | 근처 | 近く |
| 旁边(儿) | pángbiān(r) | Beside | 옆 | 隣, 横 |
| 中间 | zhōngjiān | Middle | 중간 | 中 |
| 这儿 | zhèr | Here | 여기 | ここ |
| 那儿 | nàr | There | 저기 | そこ |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | Where | 어디 | どこ |
Putting it all together
Examples
我家在地鐵站附近，所以很方便我家在地铁站附近，所以很方便 My house is near the subway station, so it’s very convenient.
中间 zhōngjiān
This word can also mean “between.” Another word for “between” — one you’ll see at HSK2 — is 之间 (zhījiān).
我和你之間有一堵看不見的牆我和你之间有一堵看不见的墙 There is an invisible wall between you and me.
Test yourself
Vocabulary Quiz
