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

(Created page with "{{Grammar Box}} 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 ...")
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{Stub}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
  

Revision as of 01:55, 7 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

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

Needs examples

Abstract Uses

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

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

Examples

Needs examples

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

Examples

Needs examples

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

See Also

Sources and Further Reading

Books