The Location words – 方位词

The Location words – 方位词

方位词 are simple nouns of locality, which indicate a position or direction.

Simple location words：

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：

1. “的” can’t be used between the noun and the simple location word.

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.

2. When talking about a nation or place, the simple location word “里” can’t be used.

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.

 

Compound location words：

Simple location word + 边/面/方 = Compound location word

These compound location words can be used independently as subject, object, or attribute.

Notes:

1. 左、右、东、西、南 and 北 often don’t use alone. They are often used as compound forms.

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.

2. When indicating position, the compound location words can be used after a noun, “的” is allowed to use.

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.