Nihongo
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いち · ichi — where things are, and how to get there

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across, beyond (the hill)outside (窓の外)deep inside, the backon top of the boxinsidethe box next to itbetween the boxesbesideunder the tablenear (the table)▲ you, standing here, looking at the table

from the side —

in front (my side)behind

= on the near side of something, = at the far end, deep in.

from above —

the middlearoundleft-hand sideright-hand side
ue · on, above
shita · under, below
mae · in front
ushiro · behind
naka · inside
soto · outside
yoko · beside
tonari · next door, next to
aida · between
chikaku · near, nearby
soba · right by
mawari · around
migi · right
hidari · left
migigawa · right-hand side
hidarigawa · left-hand side
mannaka · the very middle
mukō · across, beyond
temae · this side (nearer me)
oku · the back, deep inside

saying where something is

  • ある for things, いる for people and animals.
  • — where's the cat? (topic first)
  • — what's on the box? (place first, が)
  • Doing something there? に becomes で:
  • Between two things: —

vs , vs

next in line, same kind: house by house, seat by seat, person by person.

simply at the side, any two things.

in the neighbourhood, not far.

right by, within reach — closer than 近く.

Here / there / over there is a different set:

giving directions —

go straight along this road
turn right
turn left
turn right at the corner
left at the second corner
right where the road ends (T-junction)
turn left at the lights
cross the intersection

を marks the spot you turn at or cross (角を, 交差点を); に marks the direction (右に).

(とうざいなんぼく) — east, west, south, north. Compounds name north/south first: ほくとう = north-east, なんせい = south-west.

examples

  • The cat is on the box.
  • There is a cat under the desk.
  • The bank is in front of the station.
  • The convenience store is between the bank and the station.
  • The cat is sleeping outside the window.
  • You can see the station across the road.
  • Go straight, then turn left at the end of the road.