方位词 are simple nouns of locality, which indicate a position or direction.
shàng | xià | lǐ | wài | qián | hòu |
上 | 下 | 里 | 外 | 前 | 后 |
up | down | inside | outside | front, before | behind, after |
Noun + simple location word
e.g.
A:我的东西在哪里?(Wǒ de dōngxi zài nǎlǐ?) Where is my stuff?
B:你的衣服在床上,鞋子在沙发下,包在房间里。(Nǐ de yīfu zài chuángshàng, xiézi zài shāfā xià, bāo zài fángjiān lǐ.) Your clothes are on the bed, your shoes are under the sofa, and your bag is in the room.
A:外面下雨了!(Wàimiàn xià yǔle!) It’s raining outside!
B:门后有一把雨伞,你用吧。(Mén hòu yǒu yī bǎ yǔsǎn, nǐ yòng ba.) There is an umbrella behind the door, you can use it.
Notes:
e.g.
✘ 衣服在床的上。(Yīfu zài chuáng de shàng.)
✔ 衣服在床上。(Yīfu zài chuáng shàng.) Clothes are on the bed.
✘ 门的后有一把雨伞。(Mén de hòu yǒu yī bǎ yǔsǎn.)
✔ 门后有一把雨伞。(Mén hòu yǒu yī bǎ yǔsǎn.) There is an umbrella behind the door.
e.g.
✘ 中国里有很多美食。(Zhōngguó lǐ yǒu hěnduō měishí.)
✔ 中国有很多美食。(Zhōngguó yǒu hěnduō měishí.) There are many delicacies in China.
✘ 四川里有很多熊猫。(Sìchuān lǐ yǒu hěnduō xióngmāo.)
✔ 四川有很多熊猫。(Sìchuān yǒu hěnduō xióngmāo.) There are many pandas in Sichuan.
上边 / 上面 / 上方 | shàngbiān/shàngmiàn/shàngfāng | Upward |
下边 / 下面 / 下方 | xiàbiān/xiàmiàn/xiàfāng | Downward |
里边 / 里面 | lǐbiān/ lǐmiàn | Inward |
外边 / 外面 | wàibiān/ wàimiàn | Outward |
前边 / 前面 / 前方 | qiánbiān/ qiánmiàn/ qiánfāng | Forward |
后边 / 后面 / 后方 | hòubiān/ hòumiàn/ hòufāng | Backward |
左边 / 左面 / 左方 | zuǒbiān/ zuǒmiàn/ zuǒ fāng | Leftward |
右边 / 右面 / 右方 | yòubiān/ yòumiàn/ yòu fāng | Rightward |
东边 / 东面 / 东方 | dōngbiān/ dōng miàn/ dōngfāng | Eastward |
西边 / 西面 / 西方 | xībiān/ xī miàn/ xīfāng | Westward |
南边 / 南面 / 南方 | nánbiān/ nánmiàn/ nánfāng | Southward |
北边 / 北面 / 北方 | běibiān/ běimiàn/ běifāng | Northward |
Simple location word + 边/面/方 = Compound location word
These compound location words can be used independently as subject, object, or attribute.
Notes:
e.g.
✘ 太阳从东出来。(Tàiyáng cóng dōng chūlái.)
✔ 太阳从东边出来。(Tàiyáng cóng dōngbian chūlái.) The sun comes out from the east.
✘ 小心,左有车。(Xiǎoxīn, zuǒ yǒu chē.)
✔ 小心,左方有车。(Xiǎoxīn, zuǒ fāng yǒu chē.) Be careful, there is a car on the left.
Noun + (的) + the compound location word
e.g.
那个男人(的)右边有只猫。(Nàgè nánrén (de) yòubiān yǒu zhī māo.) There is a cat to the right of the man.
大门(的)外面是花园。(Dàmén (de) wàimiàn shì huāyuán.) There is a garden outside the gate.
中国(的)南方很暖和。(Zhōngguó (de) nánfāng hěn nuǎnhuo.) South China is very warm.
3.
Noun + (的) + the compound location word
This pattern indicates the position or direction of something or someone. The corresponding question word should be “哪儿” or “哪里”.
The compound location word + 的 + noun
This pattern indicates the specific thing or person. The corresponding question word should be “哪个”.
e.g.
A: 妈妈在哪儿?(Māma zài nǎr?) Where is mom?
B:妈妈在厨房里面。(Māma zài chúfáng lǐmiàn.) Mom is in the kitchen.
A:厨房在哪儿?(Chúfáng zài nǎr?) Where is the kitchen?
B:厨房在厕所的右边。(Chúfáng zài cèsuǒ de yòubiān.) The kitchen is to the right of the toilet.
A: 哪个厕所?(Nǎge cèsuǒ?) Which toilet?
B:南边的厕所。你能拿汉语书给我吗?(Nánbian de cèsuǒ. Nǐ néng ná hànyǔ shū gěi wǒ ma?) The toilet is on the south side. Can you bring me the Chinese book?
A:哪本汉语书?(Nǎ běn hànyǔ shū?) Which Chinese book?
B:我要桌子上面的汉语书。(Wǒ yào zhuōzi shàngmiàn de hànyǔ shū.) I want the Chinese book on the table.
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