Difference between revisions of "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 to express location in relation to another object. This way, you can describe if something is "on the table" or "in the room".
 
You can use 在 (zài) to express location, but this article will explain how to use 在 to express location in relation to another object. This way, you can describe if something is "on the table" or "in the room".
  
==Structure==
+
==Structure used for Location==
  
 
To show where an object is in relation to another object, you can use 在 and a direction complement.
 
To show where an object is in relation to another object, you can use 在 and a direction complement.
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==Examples==
 
==Examples==
  
'''Needs examples'''
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* 你 的 手机 <em>在</em> 桌子 <em>上</em>。
 +
* 他 <em>在</em> 楼 <em>下</em>。
 +
* <em>在</em> 这 个 盒子 <em>里</em> 有 什么?
 +
* 一 个 中国 人<em>在</em> 我 <em>旁边</em>。
 +
</div>
  
 
==Abstract Uses==
 
==Abstract Uses==
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Some prepositions can be paired with more abstract concepts to form idiomatic phrases.  
 
Some prepositions can be paired with more abstract concepts to form idiomatic phrases.  
  
===在 + 上===
+
===Expressing  "on the topic of" with "..."===
  
 
This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to". It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.
 
This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to". It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
在 + Abstract Concepts + 上 + Comment
+
在 + Abstract Concepts + 上Comment Sentence
  
 
</div class>
 
</div class>
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====Examples====
 
====Examples====
  
'''Needs examples'''
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* <em>在</em> 这 个 问题 <em>上</em>,我们 的 看法 不 一样。
 +
* <em>在</em> 技术 <em>上</em>,这样 做 是 可以 的。
 +
* <em>在</em> 语法 <em>上</em>,我 知道 我 还 有 很多 问题。
 +
</div>
  
===在 + 下===
+
===Expressing "under" with "..."===
  
 
This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.
 
This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
在 + Abstract Concept + 下 + Result/Comment
+
在 + Abstract Concept + 下, Result/Comment Sentence
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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====Examples====
 
====Examples====
  
'''Needs examples'''
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* <em>在</em> 越 来 越 大 的 工作 压力 <em>下</em>,他 辞职 了。
 +
* <em>在</em> 太太 的 支持 <em>下</em>,我 自己 开 了 一 个 公司。
 +
* <em>在</em> 父母 的 教育 <em>下</em>,他 考 上 了 大学。
 +
* <em>在</em> 这样 的 环境 <em>下</em>,孩子 怎么 能 健康 地 成长?
 +
</div>
  
===在 + 方面===
+
===Expressing "on the topic of" with "...方面"===
  
 
This construction is very similar to the "在...上" above. It translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of".
 
This construction is very similar to the "在...上" above. It translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of".
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<div class="jiegou''>
 
<div class="jiegou''>
  
在 + Abstract Concept + 方面 + Comment
+
在 + Abstract Concept + 方面, Comment Sentence
  
 
====Examples====
 
====Examples====
  
'''Needs examples'''
+
<div class="liju">
 +
* <em>在</em> 教育 <em>方面</em>,中国 还 有 很 大 的 问题。
 +
* <em>在</em> 工资 <em>方面</em>,我 觉得 我们 还 要 再 讨论 一下。
 +
* <em>在</em> 网游 <em>方面</em>,他 是 专家。
 +
</div>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing location}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing location}}
{{Basic Grammar|在|B1|在 + Place + Complement|<em>在</em> 桌子 上。|grammar point|NEEDCODE2}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|在|B1|在 + Location + 上/下/里/旁边|你 的 手机 <em>在</em> 桌子 <em>上</em>。|grammar point|NEEDCODE2}}
 +
{{Rel char|上}}
 +
{{Rel char|下}}
 +
{{Rel char|里}}
 +
{{Rel char|方面}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing existence in a place}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing existence in a place}}
 
{{Similar|"Zai" following verbs}}
 
{{Similar|"Zai" following verbs}}
 
{{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Basic sentence order}}  
 
{{Similar|Basic sentence order}}  
{{POS|Prepositions}}
+
{{POS|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Translation|in}}
 
{{Translation|in}}
 
{{Translation|at}}
 
{{Translation|at}}

Revision as of 08:05, 14 June 2013

You can use 在 (zài) to express location, but this article will explain how to use 在 to express location in relation to another object. This way, you can describe if something is "on the table" or "in the room".

Structure used for Location

To show where an object is in relation to another object, you can use 在 and a direction complement.

在 + Location + 上/下/里/旁边/etc

Notice that the "preposition" comes after the location 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

  • 你 的 手机 桌子
  • 这 个 盒子 有 什么?
  • 一 个 中国 人旁边

Abstract Uses

Some prepositions can be paired with more abstract concepts to form idiomatic phrases.

Expressing "on the topic of" with "在...上"

This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to". It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.

在 + Abstract Concepts + 上, Comment Sentence

Examples

  • 这 个 问题 ,我们 的 看法 不 一样。
  • 技术 ,这样 做 是 可以 的。
  • 语法 ,我 知道 我 还 有 很多 问题。

Expressing "under" with "在...下"

This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.

在 + Abstract Concept + 下, Result/Comment Sentence

Examples

  • 越 来 越 大 的 工作 压力 ,他 辞职 了。
  • 太太 的 支持 ,我 自己 开 了 一 个 公司。
  • 父母 的 教育 ,他 考 上 了 大学。
  • 这样 的 环境 ,孩子 怎么 能 健康 地 成长?

Expressing "on the topic of" with "在...方面"

This construction is very similar to the "在...上" above. It translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of".

在 + Abstract Concept + 方面, Comment Sentence

Examples

  • 教育 方面,中国 还 有 很 大 的 问题。
  • 工资 方面,我 觉得 我们 还 要 再 讨论 一下。
  • 网游 方面,他 是 专家。

See Also

Sources and Further Reading

Books