You can use 在 (zài) to express location, but this article will explain how to use 在 (zài) to express location in relation to another object. This way, you can describe if something is “on the table” or “in the room.”
在 (zài) with “Big Locations”
If you’re talking about a “big place” like a country or city, then all you need is 在 (zài) and the name of the place.
Structure: 在 + Place
Examples:
在中国 (zài Zhōngguó) = in China
在美国 (zài Měiguó) = in the USA
在上海 (zài Shànghǎi) = in Shanghai
在 (zài) with Specific Locations
To show where an object is in relation to another object, make a “sandwich” starting with 在 (zài), add a place, and then add one of the following words: 上 (shàng), 下 (xià), 里 (lǐ), 旁边 (pángbiān).
Structure: 在 + Location+ 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边
Notice that the “preposition” comes after the location and object that it modifies. That is, in English we say “on the table,” but in Chinese, it is more like “at the table, on.” This can be somewhat confusing, but don’t worry. Once you start using this construction, it gets easy really quickly.
Examples:
在桌子上。(zài zhuōzi shàng) = on the table
你的手机在包里吗?(nǐ de shǒujī zài bāo lǐ ma) = Is your cell phone in the bag?
他在楼下。(tā zài lóuxià) = He is downstairs.
Walmart在我家旁边。(Walmart zài wǒ jiā pángbiān) = Walmart is next to my house.
我在火车上。(wǒ zài huǒchē shàng) = I am on the train.
在 (zài) with Specific Occasion
Structure: 在 + Occasion + 上
Examples:
在课上 (zài kè shàng) = in class
在派对上 (zài pàiduì shàng) = at the party
在会议上 (zài huìyì shàng) = at the meeting
Common Nouns of Locality
The little words that come after the location in the phrases above aren’t really “prepositions.” They are called “nouns of locality,” or 方位词 (fāngwèicí) in Chinese. They actually tend to have several forms, which can be confusing if you’re not used to them. The chart below shows their most common forms:
One-Character Two-Character English
上shàng 上面 / 上边shàngmiàn / shàngbian top, above
下xià 下面 / 下边xiàmiàn / xiàbian bottom, under
里lǐ 里面 / 里边lǐmiàn / lǐbian inside
外wài 外面 / 外边wàimiàn / wàibian outside
边biān 旁边pángbiān side, beside
前qián 前面 / 前边qiánmiàn / qiánbian front
后hòu 后面 / 后边hòumiàn / hòubian back, behind
左zuǒ 左边zuǒbian left
右yòu 右边yòubian right
Post time: Apr-14-2020