291

43Expressing location

and distance

43.1 Location

43.1.1 Words that indicate location and compass direction

43.1.1.1 Location words

Mandarin location words consist of a base form and a location suffix. Base forms never

occur alone. Some base forms occur with several different suffixes with no change in

meaning. Here are the Mandarin location words and their English equivalents.

Base form Mandarin location words English

�/� � /� � /� � /�

lm lmtou lmmiàn lmbipn in

� � /� � � /�

wài wàitou wàimian wàibian out

� � /� � � /�

shàng shàngtou shàngmian shàngbian over

� � /� � � /�

xià xiàtou xiàmian xiàbian under

� � /� � � /�

qián qiántou qiánmian qiánbian in front of

�/� � /� � /� � /�

hòu hòutou hòumian hòubian behind

� � � /�

zun zunmiàn zunbian left

� � � /�

yòu yòumiàn yòubian right

�/� � /�

duì duìmiàn across from

� � /� � /�

páng duìmiàn pángbipn next to

� � /�

zhsng zhsngjipn between

EXPRESSING LOCATION AND DISTANCE

292

NOTES 1 In traditional characters, the character � lm is also written as �.

2 The choice of suffix is determined by the region of China and the personal preference of the speaker.3 Mandarin has a second word for ‘in,’ � nèi. � nèi does not occur with suffixes and has very

restricted in usage. It is used in fixed expressions such as:

� /� guónèi domestic (vs. � /� guówài foreign)� nèibù internal

� nèiren my wife

43.1.1.2 Compass direction

The words for north, east, south, and west are also formed with a base form and a

suffix. The suffix can be � miàn or �/� bipn.

The combination compass direction words (northeast, southwest, etc.) usually occur

without a suffix. If a suffix occurs, it is � miàn or �/� bipn.

Base form Mandarin compass direction words English

�/� � /� � /�

dsng dsngmiàn dsngbian east

� � � /�

nán nánmiàn nánbian south

� � � /�

xr xrmiàn xrbian west

� � � /�

bli blimiàn blibian north

� (�)/� (�) � (�)/� (�)

dsngnán (miàn) dsngnán (bian) southeast

� (�)/� (�) � (�)/� (�)

dsngbli (miàn) dsngbli (bian) northeast

� (�) � (�)/� (�)

xrnán (miàn) xrnán (bian) southwest

� (�) � (�)/� (�)

xrbli (miàn) xrbli (bian) northwest

43.1.2 Spatial orientation with respect to a reference point

43.1.2.1 Indicating location with respect to a reference using location words

To indicate that something is ‘inside,’ ‘outside,’ ‘over,’ ‘under,’ etc. a reference point,

use the following structure:

reference point � de location word

In the following phrases, the reference point is the house. Note that � de may be

omitted.

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) lmtou

inside the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) wàitou

outside the house

43.1

293

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) shàngtou

on the house/over the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) xiàtou

below the house/under the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) qiántou

in front of the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) hòutou

behind the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) zunbian

to the left of the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) yòubian

to the right of the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) duìmiàn

across from the house

� (�)� /� (�)�

fángzi (de) zhsngjipn

between the houses

� !"/� !"

fángzi (de) pángbipn

next to the house

The location base forms �/� lm ‘inside,’ � wài ‘outside,’ � shàng ‘above,’ and �

xià ‘below’ can directly follow the reference point. When they occur this way, � de

does not occur.

reference point + location base form

� (�)� /� (�)� or � /�

fángzi (de) lmtou fángzi lm

inside the house inside the house

� (�)� /� (�)� or �

fángzi (de) wàitou fángzi wài

outside the house outside the house

� (�)� /� (�)� or �

fángzi (de) shàngtou fángzi shàng

on top of the house on top of the house

� (�)� /� (�)� or �

fángzi (de) xiàtou fángzi xià

below the house below the house

Location 43.1

EXPRESSING LOCATION AND DISTANCE

294

43.1.2.2 Indicating location with compass direction words

To indicate that something is ‘east of,’ ‘west of,’ ‘north of,’ or ‘south of’ a reference

point, use the following structure. Keep in mind that compass direction words can be

used with the � miàn or �/� bipn suffix.

reference point � de compass direction word

43.1.3 Describing the location of an object

To describe the location of an object with respect to a reference point, say:

object � zài reference point � de location word

In these examples, the object is the cat, and the reference point is the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) lmtou.

The cat is inside the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) wàitou.

The cat is outside the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) shàngtou.

The cat is on the house/over the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) xiàtou.

The cat is below the house/under the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) qiántou.

The cat is in front of the house.

� !"

fángzi de blimiàn

north of the house

� !"

fángzi de nánmiàn

south of the house

� !"

� !"

fángzi de dsngmiàn

east of the house

� !"

fángzi de xrmiàn

west of the house

43.1

295

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) hòutou.

The cat is behind the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) zunbian.

The cat is to the left of the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) yòubian.

The cat is to the right of the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) duìmiàn.

The cat is across from the house.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) zhsngjipn.

The cat is between the houses.

� !(�)�

� !(�)�

Mpo zài fángzi (de) pángbipn.

The cat is next to the house.

Use the same pattern to indicate location in terms of compass direction:

object � zài reference point � de compass location word

� !(�)� (�)�

� !E�F� E�F�

Fángzi zài lù (de) xrbli (bipn).

The house is to the northwest of the road.

� !(�)� (�)�

� !(�)� (�)�

Lù zài fángzi (de) dsngnán (bipn).

The road is to the southeast of the house.

43.2 Indicating that an object exists or does not exist ata location

To indicate that an object exists at a location, use the following pattern. Note that

� zài is optional at the beginning of the sentence.

(� zài) location � ynu object�

At location there is object (there are objects).

Indicating that an object exists or does not exist at a location 43.2

EXPRESSING LOCATION AND DISTANCE

296

(�)� !"#

(�)� !"#

(Zài) zhuszi shàng ynu sht.

On the table there is a book (there are books).

(�)� !"#$

E�F� !"#$

(Zài) fángzi hòubian ynu mpo.

Behind the house there is a cat (there are cats).

� ynu object � zài location�

There is object (there are objects) at location.

� !"#$%&

� !"#$%&

Ynu likng bln sht zài zhuszi shàng.

There are two books on the table.

� !"#$%&'(

� !"#$%&'(

Ynu yrzhr mpo zài fángzi de hòubian.

There is a cat behind the house.

To indicate that an object does not exist at a location, use the following structure:

(� zài) location � méi ynu object

At location there is no object.

(�)� !"#$

(�)� !"#$

(Zài) fángzi lm méi ynu rén.

There are no people in the house.

(lit. ‘In the house there are no people.’)

(�)� !"# $

(�)� !"# $

(Zài) wtzi lm méi ynu zhuszi.

There aren’t any tables in the room.

(lit. ‘In the room there aren’t any tables.’)

or

� méi ynu object � zài location

� !"#$%

� !"#$%

Méi ynu rén zài fángzi lm.

There are no people in the house.

� !"#!$%

� !"#!$%

Méi ynu zhuszi zài wtzi lm.

There aren’t any tables in the room.

43.2

297

43.3 Using location as a description

Location phrases may also be used to describe a noun. When used as a description,

the location phrase precedes the noun, as follows:

Location phrase � de noun

the noun at this location [or] the noun in this direction

To help you to understand this structure, the location phrase in each of the following

examples is presented in square brackets. Notice that the words ‘that,’ ‘who,’ and

‘which’ that occur in the description in English are not translated into Mandarin. In

Mandarin, the noun can be understood as singular or plural.

[� ]=�

[� ]=�

[shpfp shàng] de mpo

the cat [(that is) on the sofa]

[� ]=�

[� ]=�

[fángzi lm] de rén

the person [(who is) in the house]

[� ]=�

[� ]=�

[blibipn] de hú

the lake [(that is) in the north]

[� ]=�

[� ]=�

[zunbian] de rén

the person [(who is) on the left]

The location phrase may itself include a noun with a description:

[� (�)� ]=�

[� (�)� ]=�

[fángzi de hòutou] de rén

the person [(who is) behind the house]

[� (�)� ]=�

[� (�)� ]=�

[túshtgukn (de) duìmiàn] de xuéxiào

the school [(that is) across from the library]

Í 9.2, 26.3

Compare the use of the location phrase as a description of a noun, with the use of

the location phrase to indicate the location of a noun. Keep in mind that location

phrases follow the noun and description phrases precede the noun.

Using location as a description 43.3

EXPRESSING LOCATION AND DISTANCE

298

Location: noun � de location phrase Description: location phrase � de noun

� !" � !"

� !" � !"

fángzi de hòutou hòutou de fángzi

behind the house the house that is behind

� !" � !"

fángzi de blimiàn blimiàn de fángzi

to the north of the house the house to the north

� !" � !"

� !" � !"

háizi de yòubian yòubian de háizi

to the right of the child the child on the right

� ! � !

� ! � !

qiántou de rén rén de qiántou

the person who is in front in front of the person

� ! � !

� ! � !

sht de shàngtou shàngtou de sht

on top of the book the book on top

43.4 Talking about distance

In Mandarin, distance is always expressed with the word �/� lí ‘to be separated

from.’ All expressions of distance use the following structure. The noun phrases refer

to objects or locations.

noun phrase1 �/� lí noun phrase2 close/far/x distance

noun phrase1 is close/far/x distance from noun phrase2

43.4.1 Talking about ‘near’ and ‘far’

To say that one object or place is (very) far from another object or place, say:

noun phrase1 �/� noun phrase2 (�) �/�

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 (hln) yukn

� !"#��

� !"#$%&

Wn jip lí túshtgukn hln yukn.

My house is very far from the library.

To say that one object or place is (very) close to another object or place, say:

noun phrase1 �/� noun phrase2 (�) �

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 (hln) jìn

� !"(�)�

� !"(�)�

Gsngyuán lí xuéxiào (hln) jìn.

The park is very close to the school.

43.4

299

To say that an object or place is close to your present location, say:

noun phrase1 �/� � /� (�) �

noun phrase1 lí zhèr (hln) jìn

or

noun phrase1 �/� ��/� (�) �

noun phrase1 lí zhèlm (hln) jìn

� !"(�)�

� !"(�)�

Gsngyuán lí zhèr (hln) jìn.

The park is (very) close to here.

� !"(�)�

� !"(�)�

Xuéxiào lí zhèlm (hln) jìn.

The school is (very) close to here.

To say that an object or place is far from your present location, say:

noun phrase1 �/� � /� (�) �/�

noun phrase1 lí zhèr (hln) yukn

or

noun phrase1 �/� ��/� (�) �/�

noun phrase1 lí zhèlm (hln) yukn

� !"(�)�

� !"(�)�

Gsngyuán lí zhèr (hln) yukn.

The park is (very) far from here.

� !"(�)�

� !"(�)�

Xuéxiào lí zhèlm (hln) yukn.

The school is (very) far from here.

Be careful to use �/� lí ‘to be separated from,’ and not the prepositions � dào

‘from’ or �/� cóng ‘from’ when talking about distance.

Say this Not this

� !"#$% G� !"#$%

� !"#$% � !"#$%

Wn jip lí túshtgukn jìn. Wn jip dào túshtgukn jìn.

My house is close to the library.

G� !"#$%

� !"#$%

Wn jip jìn dào túshtgukn.

43.4.2 Talking about specific distance

To indicate the specific distance between two objects or places, say:

noun phrase1 �/� noun phrase2 (�) distance

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 (ynu) distance

Talking about distance 43.4

EXPRESSING LOCATION AND DISTANCE

300

� !"#(�)� (�)�

� !"#(�)� (�)�

Gsngyuán lí túshtgukn (ynu) spn lm (lù).

The park is three miles from the library.

Commonly used distance words include:

� lm Chinese mile (.5 kilometers)

� gsnglm kilometer

� mm meter

� Yrng lm English mile

� lm English mile

43.5 Asking about distance

43.5.1 Asking about ‘near’ and ‘far’

To ask if an object or place is far from another object or place, say:

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 �

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 �

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 yukn ma?

or

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 � �

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 � �

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 yukn bù yukn?

� !"#$%&

� !"#$%&

Nm jip lí túshtgukn yukn ma?

Is your house far from the library?

or

� !"#$%$&

� !"#$%$&

Nm jip lí túshtgukn yukn bù yukn?

Is your house far from the library?

To ask if an object or place is near to another object or place, say:

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 �

noun phrase1 � noun phrase2 �

noun phrase1 lí noun phrase2 jìn ma?

� !"#$%&

� !"#$%&

Nm jip lí túshtgukn jìn ma?

Is your house close to the library?

NOTE As in English, the question ‘is it far?’ is more neutral than the question ‘is it close?’ When the speaker

asks ‘is it far?’ he or she typically does not necessarily expect the answer to be ‘far.’ However, when the

question is ‘is it close?’ the speaker often expects the answer to be ‘close.’

43.5

301

To ask if an object or place is far from your present location, say:

� !"#$%&

� !"#$%&

Túshtgukn lí zhèr yukn ma?

Is the library far from here?

or

� !"#$%&

� !"#$%&

Túshtgukn lí zhèlm yukn ma?

Is the library far from here?

Í 24.1

43.5.2 Asking about specific distances

To ask how far one object or place is from another object or place, say:

� !"#$(�)�

� !"#$(�)�

Nm jip lí túshtgukn dus(me) yukn?

How far is your house from the library?

or

� !"#$%&'

� !"#$%&'

Nm jip lí túshtgukn ynu dus yukn?

How far is your house from the library?

Í 24.6

Asking about distance 43.5