Chinese Locations, Places, And Buildings: 52 Easy Words And Phrases For Beginners

Learn everyday places in simplified Chinese: 地点 dìdiǎn, 地方 dìfang, 建筑 jiànzhù. Because getting lost is only fun in movies.

When you start learning Chinese, place words pay rent immediately. You need them to ask where the bathroom is, tell a driver where to stop, find your hotel, and explain that yes, you are absolutely standing in front of the right building.

This guide teaches useful locations, places, and buildings in simplified Chinese with pinyin, clear meanings, and real example sentences. The words start with the most common everyday spots, then expand into public places, city buildings, and location phrases you will hear all the time.

Yak Tip

Chinese has a lot of place words that look innocent until they team up. A building word like 商店 shāngdiàn means “shop,” but add 在 zài and 旁边 pángbiān, and suddenly you can actually say where it is. Fancy.

Visual Cards: Core Place Words

家
jiā

home

我在家。
wǒ zài jiā.
I am at home.

学校
xuéxiào

school

他在学校学习。
tā zài xuéxiào xuéxí.
He studies at school.

医院
yīyuàn

hospital

医院在那边。
yīyuàn zài nàbian.
The hospital is over there.

饭馆
fànguǎn

restaurant

这家饭馆很好吃。
zhè jiā fànguǎn hěn hǎochī.
This restaurant is very tasty.

商店
shāngdiàn

shop

商店在楼下。
shāngdiàn zài lóuxià.
The shop is downstairs.

酒店
jiǔdiàn

hotel

我们的酒店很近。
wǒmen de jiǔdiàn hěn jìn.
Our hotel is very near.

车站
chēzhàn

station

车站离这里不远。
chēzhàn lí zhèlǐ bù yuǎn.
The station is not far from here.

公园
gōngyuán

park

孩子们在公园玩。
háizimen zài gōngyuán wán.
The children are playing in the park.

Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences

这里 zhèlǐ — here
我在这里等你。
wǒ zài zhèlǐ děng nǐ.
I am waiting for you here.
那里 nàlǐ — there
厕所在那里。
cèsuǒ zài nàlǐ.
The restroom is there.
这边 zhèbiān — this side / here
请来这边。
qǐng lái zhèbiān.
Please come this way.
那边 nàbiān — that side / over there
地铁站在那边。
dìtiězhàn zài nàbiān.
The subway station is over there.
附近 fùjìn — nearby
这附近有银行吗？
zhè fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?
Is there a bank nearby?
远 yuǎn — far
学校离我家很远。
xuéxiào lí wǒ jiā hěn yuǎn.
The school is far from my home.
近 jìn — near
饭馆很近。
fànguǎn hěn jìn.
The restaurant is very near.
里面 lǐmiàn — inside
他在房间里面。
tā zài fángjiān lǐmiàn.
He is inside the room.
外面 wàimiàn — outside
外面有很多人。
wàimiàn yǒu hěn duō rén.
There are many people outside.
前面 qiánmiàn — in front
超市在学校前面。
chāoshì zài xuéxiào qiánmiàn.
The supermarket is in front of the school.
后面 hòumiàn — behind
停车场在楼后面。
tíngchēchǎng zài lóu hòumiàn.
The parking lot is behind the building.
旁边 pángbiān — beside / next to
银行在医院旁边。
yínháng zài yīyuàn pángbiān.
The bank is next to the hospital.

Common Place Words For Daily Life

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
家	jiā	home	我现在回家。	wǒ xiànzài huí jiā.	I am going home now.
学校	xuéxiào	school	学校很大。	xuéxiào hěn dà.	The school is big.
公司	gōngsī	company / office	她在公司上班。	tā zài gōngsī shàngbān.	She works at the company.
商店	shāngdiàn	shop	那家商店很便宜。	nà jiā shāngdiàn hěn piányi.	That shop is cheap.
超市	chāoshì	supermarket	我去超市买水果。	wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ.	I am going to the supermarket to buy fruit.
饭馆	fànguǎn	restaurant	我们在饭馆吃饭。	wǒmen zài fànguǎn chīfàn.	We eat at the restaurant.
咖啡馆	kāfēiguǎn	café	咖啡馆在路口。	kāfēiguǎn zài lùkǒu.	The café is at the intersection.
酒店	jiǔdiàn	hotel	酒店离机场很近。	jiǔdiàn lí jīchǎng hěn jìn.	The hotel is close to the airport.

Public Places And City Spots

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
医院	yīyuàn	hospital	医院二十四小时开门。	yīyuàn èrshísì xiǎoshí kāimén.	The hospital is open 24 hours.
银行	yínháng	bank	银行今天不开门。	yínháng jīntiān bù kāimén.	The bank is not open today.
邮局	yóujú	post office	邮局在对面。	yóujú zài duìmiàn.	The post office is across from here.
警察局	jǐngchájú	police station	警察局就在附近。	jǐngchájú jiù zài fùjìn.	The police station is nearby.
图书馆	túshūguǎn	library	我下午去图书馆。	wǒ xiàwǔ qù túshūguǎn.	I am going to the library this afternoon.
博物馆	bówùguǎn	museum	这个博物馆很有名。	zhège bówùguǎn hěn yǒumíng.	This museum is famous.
公园	gōngyuán	park	他们在公园散步。	tāmen zài gōngyuán sànbù.	They are taking a walk in the park.
广场	guǎngchǎng	square / plaza	广场上有很多游客。	guǎngchǎng shàng yǒu hěn duō yóukè.	There are many tourists in the square.

Transport And Travel Places

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
车站	chēzhàn	station	车站人很多。	chēzhàn rén hěn duō.	There are many people at the station.
火车站	huǒchēzhàn	train station	火车站离市中心不远。	huǒchēzhàn lí shìzhōngxīn bù yuǎn.	The train station is not far from downtown.
地铁站	dìtiězhàn	subway station	地铁站在商场下面。	dìtiězhàn zài shāngchǎng xiàmiàn.	The subway station is under the mall.
公交站	gōngjiāozhàn	bus stop	公交站在学校门口。	gōngjiāozhàn zài xuéxiào ménkǒu.	The bus stop is at the school entrance.
机场	jīchǎng	airport	我们早上去机场。	wǒmen zǎoshang qù jīchǎng.	We are going to the airport in the morning.
路口	lùkǒu	intersection	请在路口右转。	qǐng zài lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn.	Please turn right at the intersection.
马路	mǎlù	road	马路对面有一家书店。	mǎlù duìmiàn yǒu yì jiā shūdiàn.	There is a bookstore across the road.
桥	qiáo	bridge	那座桥很长。	nà zuò qiáo hěn cháng.	That bridge is very long.

Buildings And Parts Of Buildings

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
楼	lóu	building / floor	我们在这栋楼里。	wǒmen zài zhè dòng lóu lǐ.	We are in this building.
大楼	dàlóu	large building	那座大楼很高。	nà zuò dàlóu hěn gāo.	That big building is tall.
门口	ménkǒu	entrance / doorway	我在门口等你。	wǒ zài ménkǒu děng nǐ.	I am waiting for you at the entrance.
电梯	diàntī	elevator	电梯在左边。	diàntī zài zuǒbian.	The elevator is on the left.
楼上	lóushàng	upstairs	洗手间在楼上。	xǐshǒujiān zài lóushàng.	The restroom is upstairs.
楼下	lóuxià	downstairs	便利店在楼下。	biànlìdiàn zài lóuxià.	The convenience store is downstairs.
房间	fángjiān	room	你的房间在三楼。	nǐ de fángjiān zài sān lóu.	Your room is on the third floor.
厕所	cèsuǒ	toilet / restroom	请问，厕所在哪里？	qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?	Excuse me, where is the restroom?

Outdoor Areas And Landmarks

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
小区	xiǎoqū	residential compound	我住在这个小区。	wǒ zhù zài zhège xiǎoqū.	I live in this residential compound.
商场	shāngchǎng	shopping mall	周末商场很热闹。	zhōumò shāngchǎng hěn rènào.	The mall is lively on weekends.
停车场	tíngchēchǎng	parking lot	停车场在后面。	tíngchēchǎng zài hòumiàn.	The parking lot is in the back.
书店	shūdiàn	bookstore	书店旁边有一家咖啡馆。	shūdiàn pángbiān yǒu yì jiā kāfēiguǎn.	There is a café next to the bookstore.
电影院	diànyǐngyuàn	movie theater	电影院在五楼。	diànyǐngyuàn zài wǔ lóu.	The movie theater is on the fifth floor.
体育馆	tǐyùguǎn	gymnasium / sports hall	比赛在体育馆举行。	bǐsài zài tǐyùguǎn jǔxíng.	The match is held in the gymnasium.
街道	jiēdào	street	这条街道很安静。	zhè tiáo jiēdào hěn ānjìng.	This street is quiet.
市中心	shìzhōngxīn	city center / downtown	他住在市中心。	tā zhù zài shìzhōngxīn.	He lives in the city center.

Location Words That Glue Everything Together

上面 shàngmiàn — above / on top
猫在桌子上面。
māo zài zhuōzi shàngmiàn.
The cat is on top of the table.
下面 xiàmiàn — below / under
地铁站在商场下面。
dìtiězhàn zài shāngchǎng xiàmiàn.
The subway station is under the mall.
中间 zhōngjiān — middle / between
银行在书店和超市中间。
yínháng zài shūdiàn hé chāoshì zhōngjiān.
The bank is between the bookstore and the supermarket.
对面 duìmiàn — opposite / across from
医院在学校对面。
yīyuàn zài xuéxiào duìmiàn.
The hospital is across from the school.
左边 zuǒbian — left side
电梯在左边。
diàntī zài zuǒbian.
The elevator is on the left.
右边 yòubian — right side
厕所在右边。
cèsuǒ zài yòubian.
The restroom is on the right.
离 lí — away from
我家离公司很近。
wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn jìn.
My home is close to the company.
到 dào — to / arrive at
我们几点到机场？
wǒmen jǐ diǎn dào jīchǎng?
What time do we arrive at the airport?

Quick Pattern Guide

Pattern	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Pinyin	EN
A 在 B	A is at / in B	我在家。	wǒ zài jiā.	I am at home.
A 在 B 旁边	A is next to B	银行在医院旁边。	yínháng zài yīyuàn pángbiān.	The bank is next to the hospital.
A 在 B 对面	A is across from B	书店在学校对面。	shūdiàn zài xuéxiào duìmiàn.	The bookstore is across from the school.
A 离 B 很近	A is close to B	酒店离机场很近。	jiǔdiàn lí jīchǎng hěn jìn.	The hotel is close to the airport.
A 离 B 很远	A is far from B	我家离公司很远。	wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn yuǎn.	My home is far from the company.
请问，A 在哪里？	Excuse me, where is A?	请问，地铁站在哪里？	qǐngwèn, dìtiězhàn zài nǎlǐ?	Excuse me, where is the subway station?

Common Mistakes And Fixes

Mixing up 这里 zhèlǐ and 这边 zhèbiān
Both can mean “here,” but 这边 zhèbiān often feels more directional, like “this side” or “this way.”
请来这边。
qǐng lái zhèbiān.
Please come this way.
Using only a place word without 在 zài
Chinese usually wants the location marker when you say where someone or something is.
他在学校。
tā zài xuéxiào.
He is at school.
Forgetting the order in location phrases
Chinese usually goes: thing + 在 zài + place.
厕所在右边。
cèsuǒ zài yòubian.
The restroom is on the right.
Thinking 楼 lóu only means “floor”
It can mean “building” or “floor,” depending on context. Context gets to be dramatic like that.
这栋楼很新。
zhè dòng lóu hěn xīn.
This building is new.

Quick Reference Summary

Places: 家 jiā, 学校 xuéxiào, 公司 gōngsī, 商店 shāngdiàn, 医院 yīyuàn, 银行 yínháng, 公园 gōngyuán
Travel Spots: 火车站 huǒchēzhàn, 地铁站 dìtiězhàn, 公交站 gōngjiāozhàn, 机场 jīchǎng
Buildings And Parts: 楼 lóu, 大楼 dàlóu, 门口 ménkǒu, 电梯 diàntī, 房间 fángjiān, 厕所 cèsuǒ
Location Words: 这里 zhèlǐ, 那边 nàbiān, 里面 lǐmiàn, 外面 wàimiàn, 旁边 pángbiān, 对面 duìmiàn, 左边 zuǒbian, 右边 yòubian

Final Yak Box

If you can say where something is, your Chinese suddenly becomes useful instead of decorative. Start with the easy skeleton: A 在 B. Then add one location word like 旁边 pángbiān, 对面 duìmiàn, or 里面 lǐmiàn. That tiny upgrade turns “I know a word” into “I can survive outside.” Much better.