Chinese Direction or Location Words You Should Know!
When learning Chinese, you will encounter several location or position words over and over again. Therefore, it is important to learn and grasp them! In today’s blog, let’s learn some
important direction words
that are used in our daily lives.
上(shàng/shang, up/on)
Although this character takes the 4th tone, it is often pronounced in the light tone when it is used alone after the noun as a direction word. Let’s look at some example sentences with 上 in it:
桌子上有一支笔。
zhuō zi shang yǒu yì zhī bǐ
There’s a pen on the table.
那只猫在椅子上。
nà zhǐ māo zài yǐ zi shang.
That cat is on the chair。
下(xià, below/under)
The opposite word of 上 is 下, which is always pronounced in the 4th tone. Let’s look at some sentences below to understand its usage:
树下有很多人乘凉。
shù xià yǒu hěn duō rén chéng liáng.
There are many people enjoying the shade under the tree.
椅子下有一只小狗。
yǐ zi xià yǒu yì zhǐ xiǎo gǒu.
There’s a puppy under the chair.
里(lǐ/li, inside)
This word is used after nouns and some monosyllabic adjectives to indicate place, time, limit, direction, etc. Let’s look at some sample sentences below:
冰箱里有很多水果和蔬菜。
bīng xiāng li yǒu hěn duō shuǐ guǒ hé shū cài.
There are many fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.
他脑子里一片空白。
tā nǎo zi lǐ yí piàn kòng bái.
His mind went blank.
洗衣机在厨房里。
xǐ yī jī zài chú fáng lǐ.
The washing machine is in the kitchen.
外(wài, outside)
The is the opposite word of 里 that indicates exterior, outer space and outside. Let’s look at some sample sentences below:
门外有我们家的快递。
mén wài yǒu wǒ men jiā de kuài dì.
There is delivery outside the door.
窗外有两只小鸟。
chuāng wài yǒu liǎng zhī xiǎo niǎo.
There are two birds outside the window.
前面(qián mian, front)
The common suffix that goes with “前“ is “面(mian)”, which is often used to form a noun of locality. This direction word is used to express “front”, such as the following sentences:
商场前面站着一对父女。
shāng chǎng qián mian zhàn zhe yí duì fù nǚ.
A father and daughter stood in front of the mall.
学校前面有一个小超市。
xué xiào qián miàn yǒu yí ge xiǎo chāo shì.
There is a small supermarket in front of the school.
后面(hòu mian, behind)
This is the opposite word of “前面”, which is used in the following sentences:
站在他后面的人叫小丽。
zhàn zài tā hòu mian de rén jiào xiǎo lì.
The person standing behind him is called Xiaoli.
我家后面有一个花园。
wǒ jiā hòu mian yǒu yí gè huā yuán.
There is a garden behind my house.
左边(zuǒ bian, left side)
The common suffix that goes with “左“ is “边(bian)”, which is often used to form a noun of locality. Some sample sentences are as follow:
邮局的左边是一个加油站。
yóu jú de zuǒ bian shì yí ge jiā yóu zhàn.
To the left of the post office is a gas station.
学校操场的左边是食堂。
xué xiào cāo chǎng de zuǒ bian shì shí táng.
To the left of the school track field is the canteen.
右边(yòu bian, right side)
This direction word together indicates the right, for example:
游泳馆的右边有一个小商店。
yóu yǒng guǎn de yòu bian yǒu yíge xiǎo shāng diàn.
There is a small shop to the right of the swimming pool.
公园的右边有一个大商场。
gōng yuán de yòu bian yǒu yí ge dà shāng chǎng.
There is a big shopping mall on the right side of the park.
Hope this article can help you to express directions in some ways. Stay tuned to this blog to learn more about various topics related to learning Chinese! If you want to learn Chinese in Singapore, consult with us at Hanhai to improve your Chinese language skills!