Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 26 of 240

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In front, behind, beside in Simplified Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, a scooter is parked in front of the shop, and Maya spots a bag under a stool.

Learn six short ways to say where something is: in front, behind, beside, on top, underneath, and in the middle.

Listen for each location phrase, then try it in a tiny conversation with Auntie Lin and A-Li. The drink on the table is still unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Say where one thing is in relation to another.

  • 在前面In front.
  • 在后面Behind.
  • 在旁边Beside.
  • 在上面On top.
  • 在下面Underneath.
  • 在中间In the middle.

Scene — a spot by the shop

At Banyan Breakfast, a scooter is parked in front of the shop. Near the stools, a bag is tucked underneath one, while A-Li's soy milk sits on the table.

Auntie Lin points out a few other things as Maya looks around. A-Li's drink is still unfinished, as usual.

Maya looks around the breakfast shop while Auntie Lin stands nearby, and Ali's partly unfinished soy milk rests on the table.

Learn — where things are

These short phrases help you point out where an object is. Listen to each one and connect it to a familiar place around the breakfast shop.

Learn each phrase as one piece, then notice it in the story.

  1. Auntie Lin points out the scooter parked in front of the breakfast shop while Maya looks toward it.

    在前面

    In front.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is in front.

    Learn it as one piece.

  2. Auntie Lin points to the bag behind a stool as Maya turns to look at it.

    在后面

    Behind.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is behind.

    Learn it as one piece.

  3. Auntie Lin points to a bag beside the table while Maya follows her gesture.

    在旁边

    Beside.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is beside another thing.

    Learn it as one piece.

  4. Auntie Lin points to Ali's soy milk on top of the table as Maya looks at the cup.

    在上面

    On top.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is on top.

    Learn it as one piece.

  5. Auntie Lin points to a bag underneath a stool while Maya bends to look beneath it.

    在下面

    Underneath.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is underneath.

    Learn it as one piece.

  6. Auntie Lin points to a small dish in the middle of the table as Maya looks toward it.

    在中间

    In the middle.

    When to use it: Use this to say something is in the middle.

    Learn it as one piece.

Story — the scooter and the bag

Maya looks around Banyan Breakfast while Auntie Lin points out the scooter, an umbrella, and the shop's stools.

A-Li notices the soy milk and the number card, but his drink remains unfinished.

  1. Auntie Lin请坐，美女。Please sit down, beautiful.
  2. Maya你好，阿犛。雨伞呢？Hello, A-Li. Where's the umbrella?
  3. Auntie Lin摩托车在前面，雨伞在旁边。The scooter is in front, and the umbrella is beside it.
  4. A-Li头盔在后面。The helmet is behind.
  5. Auntie Lin阿犛，你的豆浆呢？A-Li, where's your soy milk?
  6. A-Li豆浆在上面。The soy milk is on top.
  7. Auntie Lin玛雅，包包呢？Maya, where's your bag?
  8. Maya包包在下面。The bag is underneath.
  9. Auntie Lin号码牌呢？And the number card?
  10. Maya号码牌在中间。The number card is in the middle.
  11. A-Li豆浆还没喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.

Practice — find the right place

Try eight quick activities about things around the shop. Listen, build phrases, fill a missing word, and choose what fits each situation.

The scooter, stools, and breakfast-shop objects will help you picture each location.

0 of 8 done

  1. What does it mean?

    在前面

  2. Build the line

    Behind.

    Tap the words in order.

  3. Fill the gap

    Beside.

    在____

  4. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin asks where the soy milk is. Say it is on top.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin asks where the number card is. Say it is in the middle.

  7. What does it mean?

    你好

  8. What do you say?

    A friend arrives at the shop. Invite them to sit down.

Say it — tell where it is

You are Maya, looking around the breakfast shop with Auntie Lin and A-Li. Listen to each question, then tell them where the object is.

Say each phrase clearly before moving on to the next object.

  1. Maya and Auntie Lin look at the scooter outside the shop.
  2. Auntie Lin摩托车呢？Where's the scooter?
  3. Maya (you)Say it is in front.

    在前面

    In front.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
在前面In front.
在后面Behind.
在旁边Beside.
在上面On top.
在下面Underneath.
在中间In the middle.
Next: lesson 27What time is it

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Review these location phrases in Yak Cards and practise them around your home.

Try describing where a few everyday objects are each day.

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