How to express location in Chinese
We can express location in Chinese by several verbs: 在, 有, and 是. Let's look at each of them.
How to express location with the verb 在
In a Chinese sentence, the already known information is stated first, followed by the new information.
If the person or object whose location will be reported is known, we should use the structure with 在 
.
.Scheme
who/what
在
location
Pay attention
It is a common mistake to use the verb 是 before 在 as well. There is no need to do this.
before 在 as well. There is no need to do this.Examples
酒店在左边
The hotel is on the left
jiǔdiàn zài zuǒbian
朋友在学校
A friend is at school
péngyou zài xuéxiào
How to express location if the adverbial modifier of place is a person
The adverbial modifier of place tells us about the place where something happens. It answers the question “where?”.
There are cases where the adverbial modifier of place is not the place itself, but the person.
For example: I’m at my grandmother's, he is at a friend's.
In such sentences, we should use the pronoun 这儿 /这里 after the person if the speaker is in the same place. When the person and the speaker are in different places we should use the pronoun 那儿 /那里 .
/这里 after the person if the speaker is in the same place. When the person and the speaker are in different places we should use the pronoun 那儿 /那里 .Examples
我在奶奶这儿
I'm at my grandma's
wǒ zài nǎinai zhèr
他在朋友那儿
He is at a friend's
tā zài péngyou nàr
We can also express the location relative to other objects or places
Scheme
who/what
在
place
(的)
location
Pay attention
If there is a person after 在, the particle 的 may be omitted. In other cases, 的 may be used optionally.
may be omitted. In other cases, 的 may be used optionally.Examples
银行在酒店的左边
The bank is to the left of the hotel
yínháng zài jiǔdiàn de zuǒbian
这座楼在我左边
This building is on my left
zhè zuò lóu zài wǒ zuǒbiān
How to ask the question “where?”
To ask about a location, we should ask a question with 在哪儿 or 在哪里 .
or 在哪里 .Examples
妈妈在哪儿？
Where is Mom?
māmа zài nǎr
How to express location with the verb 有
With 有 , we can express that there is some abstract object or a person which is unknown to the interlocutor.
There is no subject in the structure with 有.
, we can express that there is some abstract object or a person which is unknown to the interlocutor.
There is no subject in the structure with 有.
Scheme
place
有
who/what
Examples
南边有银行
There is a bank in the south
nánbiān yǒu yínháng
银行左边有酒店
There is a hotel to the left of the bank
yínháng zuǒbiān yǒu jiǔdiàn
To ask a question, we should use the word 什么 after 有.
after 有.Examples
银行左边有什么？
What's to the left of the bank?
yínháng zuǒbiān yǒu shénme
How to express location with the verb 是
The constructions with 有 and 是 are similar.
However we use 是 to clarify or confirm the location of a specific object or person.
Scheme
place
是
who/what
Examples
桌子上是我本子
That’s my book on the table
zhuōzi shàng shì wǒ de běnzi
我旁边是玛莎
Masha is next to me
wǒ pángbiān shì mǎshā
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