Location Words
方位名词
Say where things are using location words like 上/下/里/外/前/后
Place a location word right after a noun to describe a position relative to that noun.
Think of the noun as an anchor — the location word tells you WHERE around that anchor something is. Unlike English, the location word comes after the noun, not before it.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Location Words (方位名词)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 方位名词 pattern
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Understanding 方位名词
In Chinese, every object is a little landmark. Want to say "on the table"? Flip it: 桌子上 — literally "table-top." Once you get this pattern down, you can describe where anything is in any room, any city, any situation. These tiny words unlock an entire dimension of communication. Think of it like giving an address — in English you start big and go small ("123 Main St, Apt 4"), but in Chinese you always anchor to a nearby object and then point from there. It is the same logic that makes Chinese addresses go from country to city to street: big anchor first, then direction. Once this clicks, you will never look at a room the same way again — every table, chair, and bag becomes a reference point you can build sentences around.
Key Points
- 上 (shàng) means "on / above" — picture placing something on a surface.
- 下 (xià) means "under / below" — imagine something hiding beneath.
- 里 (lǐ) means "inside" — think of reaching INTO a bag or box.
- 外 (wài) means "outside" — the opposite of 里, beyond a boundary.
- 前 (qián) means "in front of" — what you see first when facing something.
- 后 (hòu) means "behind" — what is hidden at the back.
- 左 (zuǒ) means "left" and 右 (yòu) means "right" — your two hands!
- These words NEVER float alone — they always attach to a noun anchor.
- 旁边 (pángbiān) means "beside / next to" — one of the most useful location words for everyday life.
- 中间 (zhōngjiān) means "in the middle / between" — use it when something sits between two other things.
- The fuller forms (上面, 下面, 里面, 外面) are more common in spoken Chinese and sound more natural in conversation.
When giving directions in China, people often use landmarks rather than street names. Knowing your location words is essential for navigating markets, campuses, and neighborhoods.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
书在桌子上。
The book is on the table.
Noun 桌子 + location word 上
手机在书包里。
The phone is in the backpack.
猫在椅子下。
The cat is under the chair.
超市在学校前面。
The supermarket is in front of the school.
前面 is the fuller form of 前
洗手间在左边。
The restroom is on the left.
孩子们在外面玩。
The children are playing outside.
菜单在桌子上面。
The menu is on the table.
At a restaurant — 上面 is the fuller spoken form
药房在医院旁边。
The pharmacy is next to the hospital.
Useful when asking for directions near a hospital
我的钱包在口袋里面。
My wallet is in my pocket.
公交车站在学校后面。
The bus stop is behind the school.
Giving directions to a friend
Common Mistakes
The location word goes AFTER the noun, not before it. Think: "table-top" not "top-table."
Location words cannot float alone — they need a noun anchor. "On" on its own does not tell us on WHAT.
Do not stack two location words unless the meaning genuinely requires it. Pick the one that fits the relationship.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Visualize the noun as an anchor point and the location word as a direction arrow pointing away from it — this makes the word order feel natural.
Many location words have a fuller form: 前 → 前面, 后 → 后面, 上 → 上面. The longer forms are more common in everyday speech.
Practice by looking around your room right now — describe five objects using 在 + noun + location word.
When traveling in China, combine location words with 在哪儿 to ask where things are: 洗手间在哪儿？(Where is the restroom?) Then listen for the location word in the answer.
Pair opposite location words to memorize them faster: 上/下, 前/后, 里/外, 左/右. Learning them as couples makes them stick.
Homework
Draw a simple map of your room or desk. Label at least six objects using 在 + noun + location word sentences (e.g., 电脑在桌子上). Try to use every location word at least once.