Location and Direction Words in Chinese: 在, 有, 上面, 旁边 and Giving Directions
How to say where things are, use position words like 上面 and 旁边, and give simple directions in Mandarin.
Being able to say where something is, and to understand directions, is essential for daily life in a Chinese-speaking place.
在 (zài): to be at
- 我在家。 (Wǒ zài jiā.) — I'm at home.
- 书在桌子上。 (Shū zài zhuōzi shang.) — The book is on the table.
- 洗手间在哪儿？ (Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr?) — Where is the toilet?
有 (yǒu): there is
Use 有 to introduce something new, in the pattern Location + 有 + thing:
- 桌子上有一本书。 (Zhuōzi shang yǒu yì běn shū.) — There is a book on the table.
- 这附近有银行吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?) — Is there a bank nearby?
Rule of thumb: use 在 for a known thing ("The book is on the table"), and 有 for something new ("There's a book on the table").
Position words
- 上面 (shàngmian) — above, on top
- 下面 (xiàmian) — below
- 里面 (lǐmian) — inside
- 外面 (wàimian) — outside
- 前面 (qiánmian) — in front
- 后面 (hòumian) — behind
- 左边 (zuǒbian) — left
- 右边 (yòubian) — right
- 旁边 (pángbiān) — beside
- 中间 (zhōngjiān) — in the middle
- 对面 (duìmiàn) — opposite
- 附近 (fùjìn) — nearby
They can be shortened after a noun: 桌子上 (on the table), 房间里 (in the room).
Asking for directions
- 去…怎么走？ (Qù… zěnme zǒu?) — How do I get to…?
- 地铁站在哪儿？ (Dìtiězhàn zài nǎr?) — Where is the metro station?
- 离这儿远吗？ (Lí zhèr yuǎn ma?) — Is it far from here?
Understanding directions
- 一直走 (yìzhí zǒu) — go straight
- 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi) — turn left
- 往右拐 (wǎng yòu guǎi) — turn right
- 过马路 (guò mǎlù) — cross the road
- 到十字路口 (dào shízì lùkǒu) — at the crossroads
- 红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng) — traffic lights
- 走路 / 打车 (zǒulù / dǎchē) — walk / take a taxi
Compass directions
东 (dōng, east), 南 (nán, south), 西 (xī, west), 北 (běi, north). Note that Chinese lists them in the order "east, south, west, north", and says "southeast" as 东南 and "northwest" as 西北.
Distance with 离
离 (lí) means "away from": 我家离学校很近。 (Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.) — My home is very close to the school.
Practice
- Describe your room using position words.
- Give directions from your home to a nearby shop.
- Practise asking "Where is ...?" and "Is there ...?".
- Look up new words in a dictionary.
English Chinese Dictionary
Offline English–Chinese dictionary with meanings in Chinese characters
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