Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

exPreSSiNG loCatioN aNd diStaNCe

47.1

47.1.3 describing and asking about the location of an object

47.1.3.1 describing the location of an object
To describe the location of an object, say:
object 在 zài location

咖啡馆在后边。

咖啡館在後邊。

Kāfēiguǎn zài hòubiān.

The coffee shop is in the back.

To describe the location of an object with respect to a reference point, say:

object 在 zài reference point 的 de location word

In these examples, the object is the cat, and the reference point is the house.

猫在房子(的)里头。

貓在房子(的)裏頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) lǐtou.

The cat is inside the house.

猫在房子(的)外头。

貓在房子(的)外頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) wàitou.

The cat is outside the house.

猫在房子(的)上头。

貓在房子(的)上頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) shàngtou.

The cat is on the house/over the house.

猫在房子(的)下头。

貓在房子(的)下頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) xiàtou.

The cat is below the house/under the house.

猫在房子(的)前头。

貓在房子(的)前頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) qiántou.

The cat is in front of the house.

猫在房子(的)后头。

貓在房子(的)後頭。

Māo zài fángzi (de) hòutou.

The cat is behind the house.

猫在房子(的)左边。

貓在房子(的)左邊。

Māo zài fángzi (de) zuǒbian.

The cat is to the left of the house.

猫在房子(的)右边。

貓在房子(的)右邊。

Māo zài fángzi (de) yòubian.

The cat is to the right of the house.