exPreSSiNG loCatioN aNd diStaNCe
47.147.1.1.2 Compass direction
The words for north, east, south, and west are also formed with a base form and a suffix. The
suffix can be 面 miàn or 边/邊 biān.
The combination compass direction words (northeast, southwest, etc.) usually occur without
a suffix. If a suffix occurs, it is 面 miàn or 边/邊 biān.
Base form Mandarin compass direction words English
东/東 东面/東面 东边/東邊
dōng dōngmiàn dōngbiān east
南 南面 南边/南邊
nán nánmiàn nánbiān south
西 西面 西边/西邊
xī xīmiàn xībiān west
北 北面 北边/北邊
běi běimiàn běibiān north
东南(面)/東南(面) 东南(边)/東南(邊)
dōngnán (miàn) dōngnán (biān) southeast
东北(面)/東北(面) 东北(边)/東北(邊)
dōngběi (miàn) dōngběi (biān) northeast
西南(面) 西南(边)/西南(邊)
xīnán (miàn) xīnán (biān) southwest
西北(面) 西北(边)/西北(邊)
xīběi (miàn) xīběi (biān) northwest47.1.2 Spatial orientation with respect to a reference point
47.1.2.1 indicating location with respect to a reference using location words
To indicate that something is ‘inside,’ ‘outside,’ ‘over,’ ‘under,’ etc. a reference point, use the
following structure:
reference point 的 de location word
In the following phrases, the reference point is the house. Note that 的 de may be omitted.
房子(的)里头/房子(的)裏頭
fángzi (de) lǐtou
inside the house
房子(的)外头/房子(的)外頭
fángzi (de) wàitou
outside the house
房子(的)上头/房子(的)上頭
fángzi (de) shàngtou
on the house/over the house
房子(的)下头/房子(的)下頭
fángzi (de) xiàtou
below the house/under the house
房子(的)前头/房子(的)前頭
fángzi (de) qiántou
in front of the house
房子(的)后头/房子(的)後頭
fángzi (de) hòutou
behind the house