Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/location-in-Chinese
In this Chinese audio lesson, we will learn to ask and say where something is.
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Please learn the following Chinese vocabulary by pronouncing the words and writing the new characters several times.
Word | Pinyin | Translation |
---|---|---|
在 | zài | to be situated); be located |
这儿 | zhèr | right here |
那 | nà | this; this; this |
哪儿 | nǎr | or |
边 | bian | (rental suffix that can be translated as "towards" or "side ...") |
东 | dōng | is (n.) |
南 | nán | South |
西 | xī | Where is |
北 | běi | North |
右 | yòu | right |
左 | zuǒ | left |
前 | qián | in front of; before |
后 | hòu | back; behind |
旁 | páng | side |
地方 | dìfāng | in law |
厕所 | cèsuǒ | bathroom |
银行 | yínháng | bank |
学校 | xuéxiào | school (buildings) |
书店 | shūdiàn | bookstore |
餐馆 | cānguǎn | restaurant |
不客气 | bùkèqì | You're welcome |
楼 | lóu | building |
对 | duì | exact; that's it |
它 | tā | he or "him" for a sth (not a person) |
大 | dà | large (especially: surface / area or age) |
Classifiers[edit | edit source]
Word | Pinyin | Translation |
---|---|---|
家 | jiā | (classifier for miscellaneous establishments) |
座 | zuò | (classifier for high buildings and mountains) |
Grammar[edit | edit source]
Ask and express the location / situation[edit | edit source]
In Chinese, to express the position of someone or something, we use the verb "在 <zài>".
When a locative (adverb of place) is used as an object, it is placed after this last verb.
A locative ends with a locative suffix.
Here we will use 边 <bian>. We will use "右边 <yòubian>" ("on the right") and not just "右 <yòu>" ("right") or we will use "北边 <běibian>" ("at the north") and not "北 ‹ běi › ("north"). Subject + 在 + complement
- 厕所 在 右边。 ‹ cèsuǒ zài yòubian. ›
The toilets are on the right.
- 餐馆 在 北边。 ‹ cānguǎn zài běibian. ›
The restaurant is in the north.
To ask the question "Where is ...", here is the structure of the standard sentence:
Subject + 在 哪儿?
Locative as an attribute[edit | edit source]
When a locative is used as an attribute, the possessive particle of <de> is optional.
Locative + (的) + Object
- 旁边 (的) 那个人 ‹ pángbiān (de) nà gè rén ›
This person next to me
- 前边 (的) 那座楼 ‹ qiánmiàn (de) nà zuò lóu. ›
This building in front
Difference between 这 <zhè> and 那 <nà>[edit | edit source]
In Chinese 这 <zhè> and 那 <nà> both serve to say "ce; ce; ce; ce" but there is a difference. We use indeed 这 <zhè> when the object is close (in distance) from the speaker and 那 <nà> when it is farther away. For simplicity, we could translate 那 <nà> by "this ... there (down)".
The demonstrative pronouns 这 <zhè> and 那 <nà> are both in front of a classifier.
Dialogues[edit | edit source]
First, read these texts in Chinese until you understand them before reading their translation.
- 请问,这是什么地方? ‹ Qǐngwèn, zhè shì shénme dìfāng? ›
- 这是书店。‹ Zhè shì shūdiàn. › - 银行在哪儿?‹ Yínháng zài nǎr ? ›
- 后边的那座楼是银行。 ‹ Hòumian de nà zuò lóu shì yínháng. ›
- 谢谢!‹ Xièxie! ›
- 不客气!‹ Bù kèqì! ›
Translation[edit | edit source]
- Please, what is this place?
- This is the bookstore.
- Where is the bank ?
- The bank is behind this building.
- Thank you !
- You're welcome !
Text[edit | edit source]
这是我们的学校。它很大。 这是我们上课的地方。 1号楼,2号楼在前边。 3号楼,4号楼在后边。 4号楼的后边有一家书店。 ‹ Zhè shì wǒmen de xuéxiào. Tā hěn dà. Zhè shì wǒmen shàngkè de dìfāng. 1 hào lóu,2 hào lóu zài qiánbian. 3 hào lóu,4 hào lóu zài hòubian. 4 hào lóu de hòubian yǒu yī jiā shūdiàn. ›
Translation[edit | edit source]
This is our school. She is tall. This is where our classes take place. Building No. 1 and Building No. 2 are in front. Building No. 3 and Building No. 4 are behind. Behind the building N ° 4 there is a bookstore.
Sources[edit | edit source]
https://chine.in/mandarin/methode/index.php?lecon=11
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Express Surprise
- 争(爭) zhēng compete; fight
- 虽(雖) suī suí though, although
- 底 dĭ bottom, base; ground
- 系(係) xì relate to
- Religion
- 喝 hē drink
- 笑 xiào laugh, laugh at
- 留 liú keep; leave behind
- Measure words