Location word
方位词
AKA: position nouns, nouns of locality
Nouns showing direction and location
Potential articles / sections
- Single character location nouns (e.g. 上, 下, 里 etc.) rarely used on their own. Usually combined with -边, -面, 以- or 之- to make two-character location nouns. These can be adverbs (adverbial adjuncts - can have more than one in a phrase).
- Single character location noun usually attach to other nouns, e.g. 屋子里.
- Some rules for 里 / 里边
- Must be used after nouns for containers, e.g. *巧克力在盒子
- Cannot be used after nouns for geographical areas, e.g. *我在北京里
Sources and further reading
Books
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 20 - 24) →buy
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 38) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 154) →buy
