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

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.

Note: 在 + Location + 上/下/里/旁边/etc做谓语时，“在”不能省略；在 + Location + 上/下/里/旁边/etc放在句首做主语时，“在”常常省略，更自然一点.

Examples

• 你 的 手机 在 桌子 上。Your cell phone is on the table.
• 他 在 楼 下。He is on the lower floor.
• 在 这 个 盒子 里 有 什么？What is inside of this box?
• 一 个 中国 人 在 我 旁边。There is a Chinese person at my side.
• 我 在 地铁 里。I am in the metro.
• 宝宝 在 床 下。The baby is in the bed.
• 手机 在 包 里。The cell-phone is in the box.
• 她们 还 在 公共 汽车 上。They are still on the bus (public transportation vehicle).
• 一只 虫子 在 汤 里 。There's a worm in the soup.
• 我们 现在 在 山 上！We are right now on top of the mountain!
• （在） 我 家 里 有 很 多 好 酒。In my home there are lots of good alcohol.
• （在） 这 个 盒子 里 有 什么？What is inside of this box?

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. Learn more about this construction here: Idiomatic phrases with "zai"

See Also

• Using "zai" with verbs
• "Zai" following verbs
• Expressing existence in a place

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