JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 6

上・下・前・後ろ・中・外・隣・近く

Position words for relative location

You’ll be able to describe exactly where something sits relative to other objects around it.

Illustration of the scene described by The cat is under the table.
Read it first

猫ねこはテーブルの下したにいます。

neko wa teeburu no shita ni imasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

The cat is under the table.

Why it means that

Describe where something is relative to another thing

These location words tell you where something is in relation to a reference object. Use の to connect the reference noun to the position word.

Example

本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。

hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.

The book is on the desk.

How it is built

Reference noun + の + position

These position words are nouns. Put the object you are using as the reference first, add の, then the position word. Add に to mark where something exists.

Reference noun+の+Position word+に
Examples

机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。

tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.

There is a book on the desk.

上うえ can mean on or above; the context tells you whether there is contact.

猫ねこは椅子いすの下したにいます。

neko wa isu no shita ni imasu.

The cat is under the chair.

下した places something lower than the reference object.

店みせの前まえに車くるまがあります。

mise no mae ni kuruma ga arimasu.

There is a car in front of the shop.

前まえ marks the space at the front of the reference object.

木きの後うしろに猫ねこがいます。

ki no ushiro ni neko ga imasu.

There is a cat behind the tree.

後うしろ marks the space at the back of the reference object.

かばんの中なかに鍵かぎがあります。

kaban no naka ni kagi ga arimasu.

There is a key inside the bag.

中なか places something within the boundaries of the reference object.

家いえの外そとに犬いぬがいます。

ie no soto ni inu ga imasu.

The dog is outside the house.

外そと places something beyond the boundaries of the reference object.

銀行ぎんこうは駅えきの隣となりにあります。

ginkou wa eki no tonari ni arimasu.

The bank is next to the station.

隣となり means directly next to or neighboring the reference place.

駅えきの近ちかくにホテルがあります。

eki no chikaku ni hoteru ga arimasu.

There is a hotel near the station.

近ちかく means nearby; it does not have to be directly beside the station.

Examples

本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。

hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.

The book is on the desk.

ドアの上うえに時計とけいがあります。

doa no ue ni tokei ga arimasu.

There is a clock above the door.

猫ねこはベッドの下したにいます。

neko wa beddo no shita ni imasu.

The cat is under the bed.

14 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.