Difference between revisions of "Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li""

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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
在 + Place
 
在 + Place
 
 
</div>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 在 中国 <span class="pinyin">zài Zhōngguó</span><span class="trans">in China</span>
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* <em></em> 中国 <span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em>Zhōngguó</span><span class="trans">in China</span>
* 在 美国 <span class="pinyin">zài Měiguó</span><span class="trans">in the USA</span>
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* <em></em> 美国 <span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> Měiguó</span><span class="trans">in the USA</span>
* 在 上海 <span class="pinyin">zài Shànghǎi</span><span class="trans">in Shanghai</span>
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* <em></em> 上海 <span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> Shànghǎi</span><span class="trans">in Shanghai</span>
* 在 纽约 <span class="pinyin">zài Niǔyuē</span><span class="trans">in New York</span>
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* <em></em> 纽约 <span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> Niǔyuē</span><span class="trans">in New York</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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在 + Location+ 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边
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</div>
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 +
Notice that the [[preposition| "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 ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
  
+ Place + 上 / 下 / / 旁边  / etc.
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*<em></em> 桌子 <strong></strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> zhuōzi <strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">on the table</span>
 +
*<em>在</em> 地<strong>上</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> dì<strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">on the floor.</span>
 +
*你 的 手机 <em>在</em> 包 <strong>里</strong> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shǒujī <em>zài</em> bāo <strong>lǐ</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">Is your cell phone in the bag?</span>
 +
*他 <em>在</em> 楼 <strong></strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> lóu<strong>xià</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He is downstairs.</span>
 +
*Walmart <em>在</em> 我家 <strong>旁边</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Walmart <em>zài</em> wǒ jiā <strong>pángbiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Walmart is next to my house.</span>
 +
*我 <em>在</em> 火车 <strong>上</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> huǒchē <strong>shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I am on the train.</span>
 +
*我 <em>在</em> 地铁 <strong>上</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> dìtiě <strong>shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm on the metro.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Notice that the [[preposition| "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.
+
== 在 (zài) with Specific Occasion ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
在 + Occasion + 上
 +
</div>
  
===Examples===
+
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>在</em> 火车 <em>上</em><span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> huǒchē <em>shàng</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I am on the train. </span>
+
*<em>在</em> <em>上</em><span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> <strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">in class</span>
* 他 <em>在</em> 楼<em>下</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> lóu<em>xià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">He is downstairs. </span>
+
*<em>在</em> 派对 <em></em><span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> pàiduì <strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">at the party</span>
* Walmart <em>在</em> 我家 <em>旁边</em><span class="pinyin">Walmart <em>zài</em> wǒ jiā <em>pángbiān</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Walmart is next to my house. </span>
+
*<em>在</em> 会议 <em></em><span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> huìyì <strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">at the meeting</span>
* 你 的 手机 <em>在</em> <em></em>吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shǒujī <em>zài</em> bāo <em></em> ma? </span> <span class="trans">Is your cell-phone in the bag? </span>
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*<em>在</em> 婚礼 <em>上</em><span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> hūnlǐ <strong>shàng</strong></span><span class="trans">at the wedding</span>
* <em>在</em> 地铁 <em>上</em> 有 很 多 人。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> dìtiě <em>shàng</em> yǒu hěn duō rén. </span><span class="trans">On the metro there are a lot of people. </span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Common Nouns of Locality==
+
== 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:
 
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:
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<table class="table big-text table-striped table-bordered">
 
<table class="table big-text table-striped table-bordered">
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
<th width="15%">One-Character</th>
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<th style="width:15%"  data-pdf-style="width:30%">One-Character</th>
<th width="25%">Two-Character</th>
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<th style="width:25%"  data-pdf-style="width:45%">Two-Character</th>
<th width="20%">English</th>
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<th style="width:17%"  data-pdf-style="width:25%">English</th>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr><td>上<span class="pinyin">shàng</span></td><td>上面 / 上边<span class="pinyin">shàngmiàn / shàngbian</span></td><td>top, above</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>上<span class="pinyin">shàng</span></td><td>上面 / 上边<span class="pinyin">shàngmiàn / shàngbian</span></td><td>top, above</td></tr>
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===Books===
 
===Books===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 128) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|10}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|128}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 264, 325)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|191}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 40-1, 164-5, 185) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|264, 325}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|40-1, 164-5, 185}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
[[Category:Table]]
 
[[Category:Table]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing location}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing location}}

Latest revision as of 04:54, 9 March 2019

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:

  • 中国 zàiZhōngguóin China
  • 美国 zài Měiguóin the USA
  • 上海 zài Shànghǎiin Shanghai
  • 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 + Location+ 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边

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

  • 桌子 zài zhuōzi shàngon the table
  • zàishàngon the floor.
  • 你 的 手机 吗 ?Nǐ de shǒujī zài bāo ma?Is your cell phone in the bag?
  • zài lóuxià.He is downstairs.
  • Walmart 我家 旁边Walmart zài wǒ jiā pángbiān.Walmart is next to my house.
  • 火车 zài huǒchē shàng.I am on the train.
  • 地铁 zài dìtiě shàng.I'm on the metro.

在 (zài) with Specific Occasion

Structure

在 + Occasion + 上

Examples

  • zàishàngin class
  • 派对 zài pàiduì shàngat the party
  • 会议 zài huìyì shàngat the meeting
  • 婚礼 zài hūnlǐ shàngat the wedding

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
shàng上面 / 上边shàngmiàn / shàngbiantop, above
xià下面 / 下边xiàmiàn / xiàbianbottom, under
里面 / 里边lǐmiàn / lǐbianinside
wài外面 / 外边wàimiàn / wàibian outside
biān旁边pángbiānside, beside
qián前面 / 前边qiánmiàn / qiánbian front
hòu后面 / 后边hòumiàn / hòubianback, behind
zuǒ左边zuǒbianleft
yòu右边yòubianright

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

Sources and Further Reading

Books