在 zài as location maker

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

All of these words can be combined with 邊边 biānbian (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 邊边 biānbian (side), not 面 miàn (side).

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shū在zài桌子zhuōzi上shàng书shū在zài桌子zhuōzi上shang
The books are on the table.

我的wǒde手機shǒujī不bú在zài包bāo裡lǐ我的wǒde手机shǒujī不bú在zài包bāo里lǐ
My phone is not in the bag.

媽媽māma的de傘sǎn在不在zàibúzài門mén外wài？ 妈妈māma的de伞sǎn在不在zàibbúzài门mén外wài？
Is mom’s umbrella outside the door?

小貓xiǎomāo在zài我wǒ頭tóu上shàng睡覺shuìjiào， 小狗xiǎogǒu在zài我wǒ腳jiǎo旁páng睡覺shuìjiào， 我wǒ先生xiānshēng在zài地dì上shàng睡覺shuìjiào小猫xiǎomāo在zài我wǒ头tóu上shang睡觉shuìjiào， 小狗xiǎogǒu在zài我wǒ脚jiǎo旁páng睡觉shuìjiào， 我wǒ先生xiānsheng在zài地dì上shang睡觉shuìjiào
The kitten sleeping above my head, the dog sleeps beside my feet, and my husband sleeps on the floor.

我wǒ在zài台灣Táiwān我wǒ在zài台湾Táiwān
I am in Taiwan.

我wǒ在zài台灣Táiwān裡lǐ我wǒ在zài台湾Táiwān里lǐ ❌
I am in Taiwan.

S + 在 zài + location + 的 de + locative word + 面 miàn or 邊 biān / 边 bian

書shū在zài桌子zhuōzi的de上面shàngmiàn书shū在zài桌子zhuōzi的de上面shàngmiàn
The book is on the table.

弟弟dìdi在zài你nǐ前面qiánmiàn嗎ma？ 弟弟dìdi在zài你nǐ前面qiánmiàn吗ma？
Is your younger brother in front of you?

我家wǒjiā在zài老師lǎoshī家jiā的de左邊zuǒbiān我家wǒjiā在zài老师lǎoshī家jiā的de左边zuǒbian
My house is on the left side of the teacher’s house.

裡面里面 lǐmiàn and 裡邊里边 lǐbiānbian are special cases that are often omitted.

你的nǐde衣服yìfú不bú在zài櫃子guìzi( 的de裡邊lǐbiān) 你的nǐde衣服yìfu不bú在zài柜子guìzi( 的de里边lǐbian)
Your clothes are not in the closet.

爸爸bàba在zài家jiā( 裡邊lǐbiān) 看kàn電視diànshì爸爸bàba在zài家jiā( 里边lǐbian) 看kàn电视diànshì
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bēizi的de前面qiánmiàn杯子bēizi的de前面qiánmiàn
The front side of the cup

前面qiánmiàn的de杯子bēizi前面qiánmiàn的de杯子bēizi
The front cup

Practice

我家wǒjiā在zài一樓yìlóu的de右邊yòubiān， 林家línjiā在zài三樓sānlóu我家wǒjiā在zài一楼yìlóu的de右边yòubian， 林家línjiā在zài三楼sānlóu

李家lǐjiā在zài王家wángjiā的de上面shàngmiàn， 馬家mǎjiā在zài王家wángjiā的de下面xiàmiàn李家lǐjiā在zài王家wángjiā的de上面shàngmiàn， 马家mǎjiā在zài王家wángjiā的de下面xiàmiàn

王家wángjiā在zài謝家xièjiā旁邊pángbiān， 陳家chénjiā在zài馬家mǎjiā左邊zuǒbiān王家wángjiā在zài谢家xièjiā旁边pángbian， 陈家chénjiā在zài马家mǎjiā左边zuǒbian

李家lǐjiā在zài林家línjiā和hé白家báijiā中間zhōngjiān， 謝家xièjiā在zài林家línjiā的de下面xiàmiàn， 在zài陳家chénjiā的de上面shàngmiàn李家lǐjiā在zài林家línjiā和hé白家báijiā中间zhōngjiān，， 谢家xièjiā在zài林家línjiā的de下面xiàmiàn， 在zài陈家chénjiā的de上面shàngmiàn

馬家mǎjiā在zài陳家chénjiā和hé我家wǒjiā中間zhōngjiān， 趙家zhàojiā在zài白家báijiā和hé我家wǒjiā中間zhōngjiān马家mǎjiā在zài陈家chénjiā和hé我家wǒjiā中间zhōngjiān， 赵家zhàojiā在zài白家báijiā和hé我家wǒjiā中间zhōngjiān

• Actions in progress with 在 zài (HSK 1)

• Existence in a place with 在 zài (HSK 1)