Chinese Prepositions List: 50 Easy Coverbs With Pinyin And Examples
Learn the most useful Chinese prepositions and coverbs, also called 介词 jiècí, with plain-English explanations and real-life sentences.
Chinese prepositions are a little sneaky. In many beginner books they look like prepositions, but in Chinese grammar they are often called coverbs because they usually show up before the main verb and set the scene: where, when, with whom, toward what, for what reason, and so on.
The good news is that you do not need a PhD in grammar drama. You just need the common patterns people actually use. This list gives you the high-utility words first, plus examples that sound like real Mandarin instead of textbook robot speech.
Tiny Reality Check
Visual Cards: The Core Chinese Prepositions
在 zài
at / in / on
我在北京工作。
Wǒ zài Běijīng gōngzuò.
I work in Beijing.
从 cóng
from
他从上海来。
Tā cóng Shànghǎi lái.
He comes from Shanghai.
到 dào
to / until / arrive at
我们晚上九点到家。
Wǒmen wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn dào jiā.
We get home at 9 p.m.
给 gěi
to / for
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
跟 gēn
with
我跟朋友一起吃饭。
Wǒ gēn péngyou yìqǐ chīfàn.
I’m eating with friends.
对 duì
toward / regarding / to
他对中文很有兴趣。
Tā duì Zhōngwén hěn yǒu xìngqù.
He is very interested in Chinese.
向 xiàng
toward / to
她向老师问问题。
Tā xiàng lǎoshī wèn wèntí.
She asks the teacher questions.
离 lí
from / away from
我家离公司很近。
Wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn jìn.
My home is close to the office.
How Chinese Prepositions Usually Work
| Pattern | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 在 zài + place + verb | do something at/in a place | 我在家学习。 | Wǒ zài jiā xuéxí. | I study at home. |
| 跟 gēn + person + verb | do something with someone | 我跟她聊天。 | Wǒ gēn tā liáotiān. | I chat with her. |
| 给 gěi + person + verb | do something for someone / to someone | 他给我打电话。 | Tā gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà. | He calls me. |
| 从 cóng + place + 到 dào + place | from one place to another | 我们从学校到地铁站走路。 | Wǒmen cóng xuéxiào dào dìtiězhàn zǒulù. | We walk from the school to the subway station. |
| 对 duì + person/thing + adjective/verb | attitude toward someone or something | 她对工作很认真。 | Tā duì gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn. | She is serious about work. |
Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences
- 在 zài — at / in / on
手机在桌子上。
Shǒujī zài zhuōzi shàng.
The phone is on the table. - 从 cóng — from
我从中国朋友那里学了很多。
Wǒ cóng Zhōngguó péngyou nàli xué le hěn duō.
I learned a lot from my Chinese friends. - 到 dào — to / until
商店从早上十点开到晚上十点。
Shāngdiàn cóng zǎoshang shí diǎn kāi dào wǎnshang shí diǎn.
The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. - 给 gěi — to / for
我给妈妈买了一束花。
Wǒ gěi māma mǎi le yí shù huā.
I bought a bouquet of flowers for my mom. - 跟 gēn — with
你可以跟我说中文。
Nǐ kěyǐ gēn wǒ shuō Zhōngwén.
You can speak Chinese with me. - 和 hé — with / and
我和同事一起去吃午饭。
Wǒ hé tóngshì yìqǐ qù chī wǔfàn.
I’m going to lunch with my coworkers. - 对 duì — toward / regarding
老师对学生很耐心。
Lǎoshī duì xuésheng hěn nàixīn.
The teacher is patient with the students. - 对于 duìyú — regarding / as for
对于这个问题，我还在想。
Duìyú zhège wèntí, wǒ hái zài xiǎng.
As for this question, I’m still thinking. - 向 xiàng — toward / to
他向我点了点头。
Tā xiàng wǒ diǎn le diǎn tóu.
He nodded to me. - 朝 cháo — toward / facing
窗户朝南。
Chuānghu cháo nán.
The window faces south. - 往 wǎng — toward / in the direction of
请往前走。
Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu.
Please walk forward. - 离 lí — from / away from
这里离机场远吗？
Zhèlǐ lí jīchǎng yuǎn ma?
Is it far from the airport?
Common Chinese Prepositions By Job
Place, Direction, And Movement
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 在 | zài | at / in / on | 我们在图书馆看书。 | Wǒmen zài túshūguǎn kàn shū. | We read books in the library. |
| 从 | cóng | from | 他从楼上下来。 | Tā cóng lóushàng xiàlái. | He comes down from upstairs. |
| 到 | dào | to / until | 地铁几点到？ | Dìtiě jǐ diǎn dào? | What time does the subway arrive? |
| 往 | wǎng | toward | 车往北开。 | Chē wǎng běi kāi. | The car is driving north. |
| 向 | xiàng | toward / to | 她向门口跑去。 | Tā xiàng ménkǒu pǎoqù. | She ran toward the door. |
| 朝 | cháo | toward / facing | 大家朝我看过来。 | Dàjiā cháo wǒ kàn guòlái. | Everyone looked toward me. |
| 离 | lí | from / away from | 我住的地方离学校不远。 | Wǒ zhù de dìfang lí xuéxiào bù yuǎn. | Where I live is not far from school. |
| 沿着 | yánzhe | along | 沿着这条路一直走。 | Yánzhe zhè tiáo lù yìzhí zǒu. | Walk straight along this road. |
| 顺着 | shùnzhe | along / following | 顺着楼梯上去就是了。 | Shùnzhe lóutī shàngqù jiù shì le. | Just go up along the stairs. |
| 经过 | jīngguò | via / past / through | 我们每天经过那家咖啡店。 | Wǒmen měitiān jīngguò nà jiā kāfēidiàn. | We pass that café every day. |
| 通过 | tōngguò | through / by means of | 你可以通过微信联系我。 | Nǐ kěyǐ tōngguò Wēixìn liánxì wǒ. | You can contact me through WeChat. |
| 自 | zì | from (formal) | 自明天起，商店恢复营业。 | Zì míngtiān qǐ, shāngdiàn huīfù yíngyè. | Starting tomorrow, the shop resumes business. |
People, Target, And Relationship
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 给 | gěi | to / for | 请给他发邮件。 | Qǐng gěi tā fā yóujiàn. | Please send him an email. |
| 跟 | gēn | with | 我想跟你谈一谈。 | Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ tán yì tán. | I want to talk with you. |
| 和 | hé | with | 她和老板开会呢。 | Tā hé lǎobǎn kāihuì ne. | She is in a meeting with the boss. |
| 对 | duì | toward / to / regarding | 我对这个计划很满意。 | Wǒ duì zhège jìhuà hěn mǎnyì. | I’m very satisfied with this plan. |
| 对于 | duìyú | regarding | 对于结果，他并不意外。 | Duìyú jiéguǒ, tā bìng bù yìwài. | He is not surprised by the result. |
| 向 | xiàng | to / toward | 他向大家表示感谢。 | Tā xiàng dàjiā biǎoshì gǎnxiè. | He expressed thanks to everyone. |
| 朝 | cháo | toward | 她朝我笑了一下。 | Tā cháo wǒ xiào le yíxià. | She smiled at me. |
| 同 | tóng | with (formal) | 我同他意见一样。 | Wǒ tóng tā yìjiàn yíyàng. | My opinion is the same as his. |
| 与 | yǔ | with / and (formal) | 公司与客户签了合同。 | Gōngsī yǔ kèhù qiān le hétong. | The company signed a contract with the client. |
| 替 | tì | for / on behalf of | 今天我替你值班。 | Jīntiān wǒ tì nǐ zhíbān. | I’ll cover your shift today. |
| 为 | wèi | for / on behalf of | 这首歌是为你写的。 | Zhè shǒu gē shì wèi nǐ xiě de. | This song was written for you. |
| 被 | bèi | by (passive) | 我的车被朋友借走了。 | Wǒ de chē bèi péngyou jiè zǒu le. | My car was borrowed by a friend. |
Time, Basis, And Method
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 在 | zài | at (time) | 我们在周五见面。 | Wǒmen zài Zhōuwǔ jiànmiàn. | We’ll meet on Friday. |
| 从 | cóng | from (time) | 我从明天开始锻炼。 | Wǒ cóng míngtiān kāishǐ duànliàn. | I’ll start exercising tomorrow. |
| 到 | dào | until | 我工作到晚上八点。 | Wǒ gōngzuò dào wǎnshang bā diǎn. | I work until 8 p.m. |
| 按 | àn | according to | 请按顺序回答。 | Qǐng àn shùnxù huídá. | Please answer in order. |
| 按照 | ànzhào | according to | 我们按照计划进行。 | Wǒmen ànzhào jìhuà jìnxíng. | We are proceeding according to the plan. |
| 根据 | gēnjù | based on / according to | 根据天气预报，明天会下雨。 | Gēnjù tiānqì yùbào, míngtiān huì xiàyǔ. | According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow. |
| 依照 | yīzhào | in accordance with | 请依照规定办理。 | Qǐng yīzhào guīdìng bànlǐ. | Please handle it according to the rules. |
| 凭 | píng | with / by / on the basis of | 凭学生证可以买半价票。 | Píng xuéshengzhèng kěyǐ mǎi bànjià piào. | You can buy a half-price ticket with a student ID. |
| 靠 | kào | by means of / relying on | 他靠自己的努力成功了。 | Tā kào zìjǐ de nǔlì chénggōng le. | He succeeded through his own effort. |
| 以 | yǐ | with / using / by (formal) | 我们以短信通知大家。 | Wǒmen yǐ duǎnxìn tōngzhī dàjiā. | We notified everyone by text message. |
| 通过 | tōngguò | through / by means of | 她通过练习提高了口语。 | Tā tōngguò liànxí tígāo le kǒuyǔ. | She improved her speaking through practice. |
| 借助 | jièzhù | with the help of | 我们借助地图找到了地方。 | Wǒmen jièzhù dìtú zhǎodào le dìfang. | We found the place with the help of a map. |
Reason, Purpose, And Comparison
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 为 | wèi | for / because of / in order to | 大家为他的成功高兴。 | Dàjiā wèi tā de chénggōng gāoxìng. | Everyone is happy for his success. |
| 为了 | wèile | for the sake of / in order to | 为了健康，我每天跑步。 | Wèile jiànkāng, wǒ měitiān pǎobù. | For health, I run every day. |
| 因 | yīn | because of (formal) | 因天气原因，航班取消了。 | Yīn tiānqì yuányīn, hángbān qǔxiāo le. | Because of the weather, the flight was canceled. |
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because of | 因为下雨，我们没出去。 | Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, wǒmen méi chūqù. | Because it rained, we didn’t go out. |
| 由于 | yóuyú | due to | 由于堵车，他迟到了。 | Yóuyú dǔchē, tā chídào le. | Due to traffic, he was late. |
| 为着 | wèizhe | for the sake of (less common) | 为着孩子，她决定搬家。 | Wèizhe háizi, tā juédìng bānjiā. | For the sake of the child, she decided to move. |
| 比 | bǐ | than / compared with | 今天比昨天冷。 | Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng. | Today is colder than yesterday. |
| 跟 | gēn | compared with | 跟以前相比，我现在更忙。 | Gēn yǐqián xiāngbǐ, wǒ xiànzài gèng máng. | Compared with before, I’m busier now. |
| 同 | tóng | compared with (formal) | 同去年相比，销量增加了。 | Tóng qùnián xiāngbǐ, xiāoliàng zēngjiā le. | Compared with last year, sales increased. |
| 关于 | guānyú | about / regarding | 关于这个消息，你听说了吗？ | Guānyú zhège xiāoxi, nǐ tīngshuō le ma? | Have you heard about this news? |
| 至于 | zhìyú | as for | 至于价格，我们以后再谈。 | Zhìyú jiàgé, wǒmen yǐhòu zài tán. | As for the price, we can talk later. |
| 除了 | chúle | except for / besides | 除了周日，我每天都上班。 | Chúle Zhōurì, wǒ měitiān dōu shàngbān. | I work every day except Sunday. |
| 除 | chú | except for (formal) | 除特殊情况外，请准时到。 | Chú tèshū qíngkuàng wài, qǐng zhǔnshí dào. | Please arrive on time except in special circumstances. |
Quick Notes On Common Confusion
- 跟 gēn and 和 hé both mean “with,” but 跟 gēn is very common in everyday speech. 和 hé can also mean “and,” so context matters.
我跟他去。
Wǒ gēn tā qù.
I’m going with him.
我和他都是学生。
Wǒ hé tā dōu shì xuésheng.
He and I are both students. - 向 xiàng, 朝 cháo, and 往 wǎng all point in a direction, but they are not perfect twins. 往 wǎng often focuses on movement direction, 朝 cháo often feels like facing or turning toward, and 向 xiàng is broad and flexible.
他往外走。
Tā wǎng wài zǒu.
He walks outside.
门朝东。
Mén cháo dōng.
The door faces east.
她向我解释了情况。
Tā xiàng wǒ jiěshì le qíngkuàng.
She explained the situation to me. - 为 wèi and 为了 wèile both connect to purpose, but 为了 wèile is the clearer beginner choice for “in order to.”
为了省钱，我们在家做饭。
Wèile shěngqián, wǒmen zài jiā zuòfàn.
To save money, we cook at home. - 对 duì often shows attitude or treatment toward someone or something.
他对孩子很好。
Tā duì háizi hěn hǎo.
He is very good to the child. - 被 bèi is usually taught with passive sentences, which beginners either love or avoid like mystery leftovers in the fridge. Still, it is common and worth learning early.
我的电脑被猫踩了。
Wǒ de diànnǎo bèi māo cǎi le.
My laptop got stepped on by the cat.
Mini Practice: Pick The Right Coverb
- 我 ___ 朋友去看电影。
Wǒ ___ péngyou qù kàn diànyǐng.
Answer: 跟 gēn / 和 hé - 她 ___ 上海搬到深圳。
Tā ___ Shànghǎi bān dào Shēnzhèn.
Answer: 从 cóng - 请 ___ 右边看。
Qǐng ___ yòubiān kàn.
Answer: 往 wǎng / 向 xiàng - 我们 ___ 明天开始上课。
Wǒmen ___ míngtiān kāishǐ shàngkè.
Answer: 从 cóng - ___ 健康，他戒烟了。
___ jiànkāng, tā jièyān le.
Answer: 为了 wèile - 我家 ___ 公司很近。
Wǒ jiā ___ gōngsī hěn jìn.
Answer: 离 lí
Quick Reference Summary
| Function | Best Beginner Choices |
|---|---|
| Location | 在 zài |
| Starting point | 从 cóng |
| Destination / endpoint | 到 dào |
| With someone | 跟 gēn, 和 hé |
| To / for someone | 给 gěi |
| Toward someone / something | 对 duì, 向 xiàng |
| Direction | 往 wǎng, 朝 cháo, 向 xiàng |
| Distance from | 离 lí |
| According to | 按 àn, 按照 ànzhào, 根据 gēnjù |
| Purpose | 为了 wèile, 为 wèi |
| Reason | 因为 yīnwèi, 由于 yóuyú |
| Passive | 被 bèi |
| Comparison | 比 bǐ |
| About / regarding | 关于 guānyú, 对于 duìyú |
| Except for | 除了 chúle |
Final Yak Box
Do not try to memorize fifty Chinese prepositions in one heroic sitting. That is how people end up “studying” for an hour and remembering exactly two words and a vague sense of betrayal. Start with 在 zài, 从 cóng, 到 dào, 给 gěi, 跟 gēn, 对 duì, 向 xiàng, and 离 lí. Those eight do a ridiculous amount of work in real Mandarin.
