Japanese/Lessons/Where is it?
This lesson introduces the sentence structure and vocabulary to describe where things are.
Before you start, make sure you've read the module on pro-forms for an explanation of these prepositions, and learnt how to use the particles "は", "の", and "に" as well as the difference between "います" and "あります".
Asking "where"
[edit | edit source]To ask about the location of someone or something you ask:
- 〜はどこにいますか
- 〜はどこにありますか
- Where is ～?
depending on whether the subject is animate or inanimate.
Vocabulary
[edit | edit source]| Japanese | English | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 前 | front | まえ | |
| 後ろ | back | うしろ | |
| 上 | above, on | うえ | |
| 下 | below | した | |
| 中 | inside | なか |
Sentence pattern
[edit | edit source]| 〜 は | 〜 の | 前 後ろ 上 下 中 |
に | います あります |
| ここ そこ あそこ | ||||
- Note: ～の上に often means "on the ～".
- ねこはテーブルの上にいます。 — The cat is on the table.
- 山田さんはビルの中にいます。 — Mr. Yamada is inside the building.
- ボールは箱の中にあります。 — The ball is inside the box.