location
47.1猫在房子(的)对面。
貓在房子(的)對面。
Māo zài fángzi (de) duìmiàn.
The cat is across from the house.猫在房子(的)中间。
貓在房子(的)中間。
Māo zài fángzi (de) zhōngjiān.
The cat is between the houses.猫在房子(的)旁边。
貓在房子(的)旁邊。
Māo zài fángzi (de) pángbiān.
The cat is next to the house.Use the same pattern to indicate location in terms of compass direction:object 在 zài reference point 的 de compass location word房子在路(的)西北(边)。
房子在路(的)西北(邊)。
Fángzi zài lù (de) xīběi (biān).
The house is to the northwest of the road.路在房子(的)东南(边)。
路在房子(的)東南(邊)。
Lù zài fángzi (de) dōngnán (biān).
The road is to the southeast of the house.47.1.3.2 asking about the location of an object
To ask about the location of an object, say:(object) 在哪儿？/哪兒？zài nǎr?
or
(object) 在哪里/哪裏 zài nǎli?
Where is (the object)?猫在哪儿？(猫在哪里？)
貓在哪兒？(貓在哪裏？)
Māo zài nǎr? (Māo zài nǎli?)
Where is the cat?C28.6To ask if an object is at a location, ask a yes–no question with 吗/嗎 ma.(object) 在 zài (location) 吗/嗎 ma?
Is (the object) at (this location)?猫在里边吗？
貓在裏邊嗎？
Māo zài lǐbiān ma?
Is the cat inside?(^) C28.1