Location 5
附近 (fùjìn) to say “near”
Remember that we can use 近 (jìn, to be close) in sentences like 他的家不近.
Now, you can put the word 附近 (fùjìn, vicinity) after a location to say phrases like near the school or near my house.
每天他在家附近的公园跑步。
(Měitiān tā zài jiā fùjìn de gōngyuán pǎobù.) Every day he runs in the park near (his) house. Literal: Every day he runs in the park in (his) house’s vicinity.
公园在他们的学校附近。
(Gōngyuán zài tāmen de xuéxiào fùjìn.) The park is near their school.
我公司附近有一个公园。
(Wǒ gōngsī fùjìn yǒu yígè gōngyuán.)There is a park near my company.
中间 (zhōngjiān) to say “between”
To say between or among in Chinese, use 在 (zài, be located) and 中间 (zhōngjiān, middle).
我坐在爸爸和妈妈中间。
(Wǒ zuò zài bàba hé māmā de zhōngjiān.) I am sitting between (my) father and mother.
公园在图书馆和学校中间。
(Gōngyuán zài túshū guǎn hé xuéxiào de zhōngjiān.) The park is between the library and the school.
站在你们中间的人是谁？
(Zhàn zài nǐmen zhōngjiān de rén shì shuí?) Who is the person standing among you all?
上面 (shàngmiàn) vs. 下面 (xiàmiàn)
You’ve seen that we can use 上 to say on. 上面 (shàngmiàn, top side) can be used in the same way! Notice that it expresses a general idea of height, like in the tree, on the table, or above the coffee shop.
树上面有一只鸟。
(Shù shàngmiàn yǒu yì zhī niǎo.) There is a bird in the tree.
桌子上面有碗。
(Zhuōzi shàngmiàn yóu wǎn.) There is a bowl on the table.
咖啡馆上面有图书馆。
(Kāfēiguǎn de shàngmiàn yǒu túshūguǎn.) Above the coffee shop there is a library.
Likewise, you can use 下面 (xiàmiàn, bottom side) to say under, just like with 下.
桌子下面有什么？
(Zhuōzi xiàmiàn yǒu shé me?) What is under the table?
你的书在电视下面。
(Nǐ de shū zài diànshì xiàmiàn.) Your book is under the television.