Grammar Point:
The way Chinese expresses locations is by adding a preposition 在 zài and a locative word (Fāngwèi cí.) Here are some common locative words.
方位詞/方位词 Fāngwèi cí
上 shàng | up, top, above |
下 xià | down, bottom, under |
里 lǐ | in |
外 wài | out |
前 qián | front |
后 hòu | back, behind |
左 zuǒ | left |
右 yòu | right |
旁 páng | beside |
中间 zhōngjiān | in between |
All of these words can be combined with 边 bian (side) or 面 miàn (side) to indicate direction, such as upside, left side, inside, etc. However, 左 zuǒ, 右 yòu, and 旁 páng can only be combined with 边 bian (side), not 面 miàn (side).
+ 面 miàn | + 边 bian | ||
上 shàng | 上面 shàngmiàn | 上边 shàngbian | Up side |
下 xià | 下面 xiàmiàn | 下边 xiàbian | Down side |
里 lǐ | 里面 lǐmiàn | 里边 lǐbian | Inside |
外 wài | 外面 wàimiàn | 外边 wàibian | Outside |
前 qián | 前面 qiánmiàn | 前边 qiánbian | Front side |
后 hòu | 后面 hòumiàn | 后边 hòubian | Back side |
左 zuǒ | ❌ | 左边 zuǒbian | Left side |
右 yòu | ❌ | 右边 yòubian | Right side |
旁 páng | ❌ | 旁边 pángbian | Beside |
中间 zhōngjiān | ❌ | ❌ | In between |
Structure
There are two structures you can use to express location in Chinese: the first one is more verbal, while the second one is more formal. Another thing to note is that when the location noun is a country or city name, such as Taiwan, New York, or the Netherlands, a locative word is not used.
S + 在 zài + location + locative word
書在桌子上书在桌子上
The books are on the table.
我的手機不在包裡我的手机不在包里
My phone is not in the bag.
媽媽的傘在不在門外?妈妈的伞在不在门外?
Is mom’s umbrella outside the door?
小貓在我頭上睡覺,小狗在我腳旁睡覺,我先生在地上睡覺小猫在我头上睡觉,小狗在我脚旁睡觉,我先生在地上睡觉
The kitten sleeping above my head, the dog sleeps beside my feet, and my husband sleeps on the floor.
我在台灣我在台湾
I am in Taiwan.
我在台灣裡我在台湾里 ❌
I am in Taiwan.
S + 在 zài + location + 的 de + locative word + 面 miàn or 邊 biān / 边 bian
書在桌子的上面书在桌子的上面
The book is on the table.
弟弟在你前面嗎?弟弟在你前面吗?
Is your younger brother in front of you?
我家在老師家的左邊我家在老师家的左边
My house is on the left side of the teacher’s house.
里面 lǐmiàn and 里边 lǐbian are special cases that are often omitted.
你的衣服不在櫃子(的裡邊)你的衣服不在柜子(的里边)
Your clothes are not in the closet.
爸爸在家(裡邊)看電視爸爸在家(里边)看电视
Dad is watching TV at home.
Locations in Chinese
Do you know the difference between 杯子的前面 bēizi de qiánmiàn and 前面的杯子qiánmiàn de bēizi?
杯子的前面杯子的前面
The front side of the cup

前面的杯子前面的杯子
The front cup

Practice
我家在一樓的右邊,林家在三樓我家在一楼的右边,林家在三楼
李家在王家的上面,馬家在王家的下面李家在王家的上面,马家在王家的下面
王家在謝家旁邊,陳家在馬家左邊王家在谢家旁边,陈家在马家左边
李家在林家和白家中間,謝家在林家的下面,在陳家的上面李家在林家和白家中间,谢家在林家的下面,在陈家的上面
馬家在陳家和我家中間,趙家在白家和我家中間马家在陈家和我家中间,赵家在白家和我家中间
林家林家 | 李家李家 | 白家白家 |
謝家谢家 | 王家王家 | 趙家赵家 |
陳家陈家 | 馬家马家 | 我家我家 |
- Actions in progress with 在 zài (HSK 1)
- Existence in a place with 在 zài (HSK 1)