You can [use 在 (zài) to express
location](Indicating_location_with_"zai"_before_verbs "wikilink"), but
this article will explain how to use 在 (zài) to express location in
relation to another object. This way, you can describe if something is
"on the table" or "in the room."

在 (zài) with "Big Locations"
-----------------------------

If you're talking about a "big place," like a country or city, then all
you need is 在 (zài) and the name of the place.

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
在 + Place

</div>
### Examples

For example, these phrases are fine just as they are:

<div class="liju">
-   在 中国 <span class="pinyin">zài
    Zhōngguó</span><span class="trans">in China</span>
-   在 美国 <span class="pinyin">zài Měiguó</span><span class="trans">in
    the USA</span>
-   在 上海 <span class="pinyin">zài
    Shànghǎi</span><span class="trans">in Shanghai</span>
-   在 纽约 <span class="pinyin">zài Niǔyuē</span><span class="trans">in
    New York</span>

</div>
You wouldn't want to add other words to the ends of these place names.

在 (zài) with Specific Locations
--------------------------------

To show where an object is in relation to another object, make a
"sandwich" starting with 在 (zài), add a place, and then add one of the
following words: 上 (shàng), 下 (xià), 里 (lǐ), 旁边 (pángbiān).

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边 / etc.

</div>
Notice that the [ "preposition"](preposition "wikilink") comes after the
location and object that it modifies. That is, in English we say "on the
table," but in Chinese, it is more like "at the table, on." This can be
somewhat confusing, but don't worry. Once you start using this
construction, it gets easy really quickly.

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>在</em> 火车 <em>上</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>zài</em> huǒchē <em>shàng</em>.</span><span class="trans">I am
    on the train.</span>
-   他 <em>在</em> 楼<em>下</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em>
    lóu<em>xià</em>.</span><span class="trans">He is downstairs.</span>
-   Walmart <em>在</em> 我家 <em>旁边</em>。<span class="pinyin">Walmart
    <em>zài</em> wǒ jiā
    <em>pángbiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">Walmart is next to my
    house.</span>
-   你 的 手机 <em>在</em> 包 <em>里</em>吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de
    shǒujī <em>zài</em> bāo <em>lǐ</em> ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Is your cell phone in the bag? </span>
-   <em>在</em> 地铁 <em>上</em> 有 很 多
    人。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> dìtiě <em>shàng</em> yǒu hěn
    duō rén.</span><span class="trans">On the metro there are a lot of
    people.</span>

</div>
Common Nouns of Locality
------------------------

The little words that come after the location in the phrases above
aren't really "prepositions." They are called "nouns of locality," or
方位词 (fāngwèicí) in Chinese. They actually tend to have several forms,
which can be confusing if you're not used to them. The chart below shows
their most common forms:

<table class="table big-text table-striped table-bordered">
<tr>
<th width="15%"  data-pdf-width="30%">
One-Character

</th>
<th width="25%"  data-pdf-width="45%">
Two-Character

</th>
<th width="17%"  data-pdf-width="25%">
English

</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
上<span class="pinyin">shàng</span>

</td>
<td>
上面 / 上边<span class="pinyin">shàngmiàn / shàngbian</span>

</td>
<td>
top, above

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
下<span class="pinyin">xià</span>

</td>
<td>
下面 / 下边<span class="pinyin">xiàmiàn / xiàbian</span>

</td>
<td>
bottom, under

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
里<span class="pinyin">lǐ</span>

</td>
<td>
里面 / 里边<span class="pinyin">lǐmiàn / lǐbian</span>

</td>
<td>
inside

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
外<span class="pinyin">wài</span>

</td>
<td>
外面 / 外边<span class="pinyin">wàimiàn / wàibian </span>

</td>
<td>
outside

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
边<span class="pinyin">biān</span>

</td>
<td>
旁边<span class="pinyin">pángbiān</span>

</td>
<td>
side, beside

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
前<span class="pinyin">qián</span>

</td>
<td>
前面 / 前边<span class="pinyin">qiánmiàn / qiánbian </span>

</td>
<td>
front

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
后<span class="pinyin">hòu</span>

</td>
<td>
后面 / 后边<span class="pinyin">hòumiàn / hòubian</span>

</td>
<td>
back, behind

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
左<span class="pinyin">zuǒ</span>

</td>
<td>
左边<span class="pinyin">zuǒbian</span>

</td>
<td>
left

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
右<span class="pinyin">yòu</span>

</td>
<td>
右边<span class="pinyin">yòubian</span>

</td>
<td>
right

</td>
</tr>
</table>
Abstract Uses
-------------

Some prepositions can be paired with more abstract concepts to form
idiomatic phrases. These kinds of phrases can really make your Chinese
sound polished. Later on you will learn about these [idiomatic phrases
with "zai"](idiomatic_phrases_with_"zai" "wikilink").

See Also
--------

-   [Indicating location with "zai" before
    verbs](Indicating_location_with_"zai"_before_verbs "wikilink")
-   [Special cases of "zai" following
    verbs](Special_cases_of_"zai"_following_verbs "wikilink")
-   [Expressing existence in a place with
    "zai"](Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_"zai" "wikilink")

Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    128)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
    1](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1 "wikilink") (p. 191)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
    2](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2 "wikilink") (pp. 264,
    325)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    4 (新实用汉语课本4)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(新实用汉语课本4) "wikilink") (pp.
    40-1, 164-5, 185)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")
<Category:Table>