Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"
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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".
Contents
在 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 + Location
Examples
For example, these phrases are just fine as they are:
- 在 中国 in China
- 在 美国 in the USA
- 在 上海 in Shanghai
- 在 纽约 in New York
You wouldn't want to add other words to the ends of these place names.
在 with Specific Locations
To show where an object is in relation to another object, make a "sandwich" starting with 在 (zài), then adding a place, and then following it with one of the following words: 上 (shàng), 下 (xià), 里 (lǐ), 旁边 (pángbiān).
Structure
在 + Location + 上/下/里/旁边/etc
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.
Note: if the 在 (zài) + Location + 上 (shàng)/下 (xià)/里 (lǐ)/旁边 (pángbiān)/etc structure is placed in the middle of the sentence, as a subject, then the character 在 (zài) must be used. If the 在 (zài) + Location + 上 (shàng)/下 (xià)/里 (lǐ)/旁边 (pángbiān)/etc. structure is placed at the beginning of the sentence, then the 在 (zài) can be omitted.
Examples
- 你 的 手机 在 桌子 上 。 Your cell phone is on the table.
- 他 在 楼 下 。 He is on the lower floor.
- 在 这 个 盒子 里 有 什么 ? What is inside of this box?
- 一 个 中国 人 在 我 旁边 。 There is a Chinese person at my side.
- 我 在 地铁 里 。 I am in the metro.
- 宝宝 在 床 上 。 The baby is on the bed.
- 手机 在 包 里 。 The cell-phone is in the bag.
- 她们 还 在 公共 汽车 上 。 They are still on the bus (public transportation vehicle).
- 一只 虫子 在 汤 里 。 There is a bug in the soup.
- 我们 现在 在 山 上 ! We are right now on top of the mountain!
- ( 在) 我 家 里 有 很 多 好 酒 。 In my home there are lots of good alcohol.
- ( 在) 这 个 盒子 里 有 什么 ? What is inside of this box?
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:
1-Character Word | 2-Character Word | Word with 儿 |
---|---|---|
里 | 里面、里边 | 里面儿、里边儿 |
边 | 旁边 | 旁边儿 |
上 | 上面 | 上面儿 |
下 | 下面 | 下面儿 |
Abstract Uses
Some prepositions can be paired with more abstract concepts to form idiomatic phrases. These kinds of phrases can really make your Chinese sound polished. Learn more about this construction here: Idiomatic phrases with "zai"
See Also
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 128) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 191) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 264, 325)→buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 40-1, 164-5, 185) →buy