Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"

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

For example, these phrases are fine just as they are:

• 在 中国 zài Zhōngguóin China
• 在 美国 zài Měiguóin the USA
• 在 上海 zài Shànghǎiin Shanghai
• 在 纽约 zài Niǔyuēin New York

You wouldn't want to add other words to the ends of these place names.

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 + Place + 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.

Examples

• 我 在 火车 上。Wǒ zài huǒchē shàng. I am on the train.
• 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.
• 你 的 手机 在 包 里吗？Nǐ de shǒujī zài bāo lǐ ma? Is your cell-phone in the bag?
• 在 地铁 上 有 很 多 人。Zài dìtiě shàng yǒu hěn duō rén. On the metro there are a lot of people.

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

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. Later on you will learn about these idiomatic phrases with "zai".

See Also

• Indicating location with "zai" before verbs
• Special cases of "zai" following verbs
• Expressing existence in a place with "zai"

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