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

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 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:

  • 在 中国 zài Zhōngguóin China
  • 在 美国 zài Měiguóin the USA
  • 在 上海 zài Shànghǎiin Shanghai
  • 在 纽约 zài Niǔyuēin New York

You wouldn't want to add other words to the ends of these place names.

在 with Specific Locations

To show where an object is in relation to another object, make a "sandwich" starting with 在 (zài), then adding a place, and then following it with one of the following words: 上 (shàng), 下 (xià), 里 (lǐ), 旁边 (pángbiān).

Structure

在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 /旁边 / etc.

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.

Note: if the 在 (zài) + Location + 上 (shàng) /下 (xià) / 里 (lǐ) / 旁边 (pángbiān) / etc. structure is placed in the middle of the sentence, as a subject, then the character 在 (zài) must be used. If the 在 (zài) + Location + 上 (shàng) / 下 (xià) / 里 (lǐ) / 旁边 (pángbiān) / etc. structure is placed at the beginning of the sentence, then the 在 (zài) can be omitted.

Examples

  • 火车 zài huǒchē shàng. I am on the train.
  • zài lóu xià. He is downstairs.
  • Walmart 我家 旁边Walmart zài wǒjiā pángbiān. Walmart is next to my house.
  • 你 的 手机 吗?Nǐ de shǒujī zài bāo ma? Is your cell-phone in the bag?
  • )地铁 有 很 多 人。(Zài) dìtiě shàng yǒu hěn duō rén. On the metro there are a lot of people.

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-CharacterTwo-CharacterEnglish
shàng上面 / 上边shàngmian / shàngbiantop, above
xià下面 / 下边xiàmian / xiàbianbottom, under
里面 / 里边lǐmiàn / lǐbianinside
wài外面 / 外边wàimian / wàibian outside
biān旁边pángbiānside, beside
qián前面 / 前边qiánmian / qiánbian front
hòu后面 / 后边hòumian / 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. Learn more about this construction here: Idiomatic phrases with "zai"

See Also

Sources and Further Reading

Books