Chinese Prepositions for Place, Time, and Location
Learn the most useful Chinese “prepositions” for place and time: 介词 jiècí and coverbs that do the heavy lifting before your main verb.
The short version: Chinese likes to set the scene first. Time, place, direction—then the action. Very efficient. Slightly bossy. Surprisingly helpful.
If English prepositions feel slippery, Chinese can feel even weirder at first because many of these words act like coverbs. That means they often come before the main verb and help build the sentence frame. The good news is that the patterns are much cleaner than they look.
In this guide, you will learn how to use common Chinese prepositions for place, time, and location, especially 在 zài, 从 cóng, 到 dào, 离 lí, 往 wǎng, 向 xiàng, and 朝 cháo. Each one comes with real examples, pinyin, and plain-English rules, because nobody needs a grammar lecture that sounds like it escaped from a dusty textbook.
Yak Snark Box
Do not try to map every Chinese preposition directly to one English preposition. That road leads to sadness, strange sentences, and the occasional dramatic overuse of 在 zài.
The Core Idea: Time, Place, Then Action
A very common Chinese sentence order is:
Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object
Example:
我今天在学校学习中文。
Wǒ jīntiān zài xuéxiào xuéxí Zhōngwén.
I study Chinese at school today.
Here, 今天 jīntiān gives the time, 在学校 zài xuéxiào gives the place, and 学习中文 xuéxí Zhōngwén is the action.
Quick Visual Guide
在 zài
at, in, on
Marks location or where an action happens.
从 cóng
from, since
Marks a starting point in place or time.
到 dào
to, until, arrive at
Marks an endpoint or destination.
离 lí
from, away from
Shows distance between places or times.
往 wǎng
toward
Shows movement in a direction.
向 xiàng / 朝 cháo
toward, facing
Shows direction, target, or orientation.
How To Use 在 zài
在 zài is the big one. It usually means at, in, or on, depending on context. It often appears before a place to show where an action happens.
Pattern: 在 zài + place + verb
我在家工作。
Wǒ zài jiā gōngzuò.
I work at home.
他们在北京吃饭。
Tāmen zài Běijīng chīfàn.
They eat in Beijing.
老师在教室里讲课。
Lǎoshī zài jiàoshì lǐ jiǎngkè.
The teacher is teaching in the classroom.
You will also see 在 zài used with time in some cases, especially in structured speech:
会议在下午三点开始。
Huìyì zài xiàwǔ sān diǎn kāishǐ.
The meeting starts at 3 p.m.
But everyday Chinese often drops 在 zài with simple time expressions:
我明天去上海。
Wǒ míngtiān qù Shànghǎi.
I am going to Shanghai tomorrow.
Useful note: 在 zài can also work as a main verb meaning “to be at.”
我在公司。
Wǒ zài gōngsī.
I am at the office.
How To Use 从 cóng
从 cóng marks the starting point. That starting point can be a place or a time.
Pattern 1: 从 cóng + place + verb
我从家来。
Wǒ cóng jiā lái.
I am coming from home.
她从上海回北京。
Tā cóng Shànghǎi huí Běijīng.
She returns to Beijing from Shanghai.
Pattern 2: 从 cóng + time + verb
我从八点开始学习。
Wǒ cóng bā diǎn kāishǐ xuéxí.
I start studying from 8 o’clock.
他从去年住在深圳。
Tā cóng qùnián zhù zài Shēnzhèn.
He has lived in Shenzhen since last year.
Very often, 从 cóng pairs with 到 dào to show a full range.
我们从周一到周五上班。
Wǒmen cóng Zhōuyī dào Zhōuwǔ shàngbān.
We work from Monday to Friday.
他从北京到广州坐飞机。
Tā cóng Běijīng dào Guǎngzhōu zuò fēijī.
He flies from Beijing to Guangzhou.
How To Use 到 dào
到 dào usually marks the endpoint, destination, or limit. It can also be a main verb meaning “to arrive.”
Pattern 1: verb + 到 dào + place
我们晚上到酒店。
Wǒmen wǎnshang dào jiǔdiàn.
We arrive at the hotel in the evening.
Pattern 2: 从 cóng … 到 dào …
从学校到我家很近。
Cóng xuéxiào dào wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
It is very close from school to my home.
商店从早上九点开到晚上十点。
Shāngdiàn cóng zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn kāi dào wǎnshang shí diǎn.
The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pattern 3: 到 dào + time
到周末我们再见面吧。
Dào Zhōumò wǒmen zài jiànmiàn ba.
Let’s meet again by the weekend.
How To Use 离 lí
离 lí shows distance, whether physical distance or time distance. Think of it as “away from” or “from” in distance-based expressions.
Pattern: A + 离 lí + B + adjective
我家离公司很远。
Wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn yuǎn.
My home is far from the office.
学校离地铁站不远。
Xuéxiào lí dìtiě zhàn bù yuǎn.
The school is not far from the subway station.
离考试还有三天。
Lí kǎoshì hái yǒu sān tiān.
There are still three days before the exam.
离下班时间很近了。
Lí xiàbān shíjiān hěn jìn le.
It is very close to quitting time.
Common trap: 离 lí is about distance, not motion. It does not mean someone is traveling away from somewhere in the same way English “from” sometimes does.
How To Use 往 wǎng, 向 xiàng, and 朝 cháo
These three are all about direction, but they are not perfectly interchangeable.
往 wǎng
往 wǎng usually points out the direction of movement.
他往前走。
Tā wǎng qián zǒu.
He walks forward.
我们往右拐。
Wǒmen wǎng yòu guǎi.
We turn right.
向 xiàng
向 xiàng can show direction, but it also often marks the target of an action, like “toward” or “to.”
他向老师问问题。
Tā xiàng lǎoshī wèn wèntí.
He asks the teacher a question.
飞机向南飞。
Fēijī xiàng nán fēi.
The plane flies south.
朝 cháo
朝 cháo often describes facing direction or movement toward a direction. It feels slightly more descriptive than 往 wǎng in many cases.
窗户朝南。
Chuānghu cháo nán.
The window faces south.
他朝我笑了一下。
Tā cháo wǒ xiào le yíxià.
He smiled at me.
A simple way to remember them:
- 往 wǎng = direction of movement
- 向 xiàng = direction or target
- 朝 cháo = facing or directed toward
Mini Rule Table
| Word | Main Meaning | Best Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 在 zài | at, in, on | location of an action | 我在图书馆看书。 Wǒ zài túshūguǎn kàn shū. I read at the library. |
| 从 cóng | from, since | starting point | 我从早上开始忙。 Wǒ cóng zǎoshang kāishǐ máng. I have been busy since morning. |
| 到 dào | to, until | endpoint or destination | 他到北京出差。 Tā dào Běijīng chūchāi. He goes to Beijing on a business trip. |
| 离 lí | away from | distance | 这里离机场很近。 Zhèlǐ lí jīchǎng hěn jìn. This place is close to the airport. |
| 往 wǎng | toward | movement direction | 请往里面走。 Qǐng wǎng lǐmiàn zǒu. Please walk inside. |
| 向 xiàng | toward, to | direction or target | 她向朋友打招呼。 Tā xiàng péngyou dǎ zhāohu. She greets her friend. |
| 朝 cháo | toward, facing | facing direction | 门朝东。 Mén cháo dōng. The door faces east. |
Useful Place And Time Sentences
Here are real-life patterns you will actually use, which is more than can be said for some grammar charts.
- 我在办公室开会。
Wǒ zài bàngōngshì kāihuì.
I have a meeting in the office. - 她在晚上学习。
Tā zài wǎnshang xuéxí.
She studies in the evening. - 我们从机场去酒店。
Wǒmen cóng jīchǎng qù jiǔdiàn.
We go from the airport to the hotel. - 他从星期一工作到星期六。
Tā cóng Xīngqīyī gōngzuò dào Xīngqīliù.
He works from Monday to Saturday. - 我家离学校很近。
Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.
My home is close to school. - 请往左边看。
Qǐng wǎng zuǒbian kàn.
Please look to the left. - 他向我解释了这个问题。
Tā xiàng wǒ jiěshì le zhège wèntí.
He explained this problem to me. - 阳台朝南，很暖和。
Yángtái cháo nán, hěn nuǎnhuo.
The balcony faces south, so it is warm. - 电影从七点演到九点。
Diànyǐng cóng qī diǎn yǎn dào jiǔ diǎn.
The movie runs from 7 to 9. - 离周末还有两天。
Lí Zhōumò hái yǒu liǎng tiān.
There are still two days until the weekend.
Practice Section
Try these before peeking at the answers. Your brain likes the struggle. Annoying, but true.
Fill In The Blank
- 我 ___ 学校学习。
Wǒ ___ xuéxiào xuéxí.
I study at school. - 我们 ___ 北京 ___ 上海坐高铁。
Wǒmen ___ Běijīng ___ Shànghǎi zuò gāotiě.
We take the high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai. - 我家 ___ 公司不远。
Wǒ jiā ___ gōngsī bù yuǎn.
My home is not far from the office. - 请 ___ 前走。
Qǐng ___ qián zǒu.
Please walk forward. - 会议 ___ 下午两点开始。
Huìyì ___ xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kāishǐ.
The meeting starts at 2 p.m.
Answers
- 在 zài
- 从 cóng, 到 dào
- 离 lí
- 往 wǎng
- 在 zài
Swap The Word
Look at the meaning change when you swap the coverb:
- 我在家吃饭。
Wǒ zài jiā chīfàn.
I eat at home. - 我从家来。
Wǒ cóng jiā lái.
I come from home. - 我到家吃饭。
Wǒ dào jiā chīfàn.
I arrive home and eat.
Same noun, different tiny word, completely different idea. Chinese is very polite about this. It lets one syllable do all the chaos.
Common Mistakes And Fixes
- Wrong: 我离北京去上海。
Wǒ lí Běijīng qù Shànghǎi.
Better: 我从北京去上海。
Wǒ cóng Běijīng qù Shànghǎi.
Use 从 cóng for a starting point in movement, not 离 lí. - Wrong: 我在明天去。
Wǒ zài míngtiān qù.
Better: 我明天去。
Wǒ míngtiān qù.
Simple time words often do not need 在 zài. - Wrong: 我往老师问问题。
Wǒ wǎng lǎoshī wèn wèntí.
Better: 我向老师问问题。
Wǒ xiàng lǎoshī wèn wèntí.
Use 向 xiàng when the noun is the target of the action. - Wrong: 学校从我家很近。
Xuéxiào cóng wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
Better: 学校离我家很近。
Xuéxiào lí wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
Use 离 lí for distance. - Wrong: 门往东。
Mén wǎng dōng.
Better: 门朝东。
Mén cháo dōng.
Use 朝 cháo for facing direction.
Quick Reference Summary
- 在 zài = where something happens
- 从 cóng = starting point in time or place
- 到 dào = endpoint, destination, or limit
- 离 lí = distance from something
- 往 wǎng = direction of movement
- 向 xiàng = direction or action target
- 朝 cháo = facing toward a direction
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 在 zài + place + verb | do something at/in a place | 我在家看电视。 Wǒ zài jiā kàn diànshì. I watch TV at home. |
| 从 cóng + A + 到 dào + B | from A to B | 从早上到晚上都很忙。 Cóng zǎoshang dào wǎnshang dōu hěn máng. Busy from morning to night. |
| A + 离 lí + B + 远 / 近 | A is far from / close to B | 超市离这里很近。 Chāoshì lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn. The supermarket is close to here. |
| 往 wǎng + direction + verb | move toward a direction | 往前开一点。 Wǎng qián kāi yìdiǎn. Drive forward a bit. |
| 向 xiàng + person + verb | do something toward someone | 他向我道歉。 Tā xiàng wǒ dàoqiàn. He apologized to me. |
| 朝 cháo + direction | face toward | 房间朝北。 Fángjiān cháo běi. The room faces north. |
Final Yak Box
If you remember only one thing, remember this: Chinese prepositions are scene-setting tools. They tell your listener when, where, and in what direction before the main action lands. Once that clicks, the grammar stops looking mysterious and starts looking suspiciously sensible.
