Indicating the location of a thing/person
S + 在 + nơi chốnUse '在' (zài) after the subject and before the place to talk about a current location. Structure: [Subject] + 在 + [Place].
医生在医院。
The doctor is at the hospital.
商店在哪儿？
Where is the store?
Lesson 2: Asking Where a Place Is
请问Learn 在 + place and 请问 + ... through Asking Where a Place Is.
3 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~13 min
Vocabulary3 words
大Adjective
- 1.big, largeused for size or age
- 2.importantin some contexts, such as 大事 (a major/important matter)
- 3.old (in age), agee.g. 你多大？(how old are you?), 大两岁 (two years older)
Examples
这个西瓜很大。
This watermelon is very big.
他比我大两岁。
He is two years older than me.
哪儿Pronoun
- whereA question about location, mainly used in standard Mandarin.
Examples
你在哪儿？
Where are you?
你去哪儿？
Where are you going?
小Adjective
- 1.small, littlethe opposite of big
- 2.youngas in a young child
Examples
我的房子很小。
My house is very small.
他是一个小孩。
He is a child.
Grammar
A polite way to ask: 'May I ask...'
请问 + ...Use '请问' (qǐng wèn) at the beginning of a sentence to ask a question politely, usually when seeking information or help from a stranger.
请问，医院在哪儿？
Excuse me, where is the hospital?
请问，这个商店大不大？
Excuse me, is this store big?
Dialogues
Asking the Way to the Hospital
On the street, Xiao Hua asks Xiao Ming the way to the hospital.
小花
小花
请问，医院在哪儿？
Excuse me, where is the hospital?
小明
小明
医院在商店的后面。你走这条路。
The hospital is behind the store. Take this road.
小花
小花
医院大不大？
Is the hospital big?
小明
小明
医院不大，是小医院。你走几分钟就到。
The hospital isn't big, it's a small one. It's a few minutes' walk.
小花
小花
好的，谢谢。医生在医院吗？
Okay, thanks. Is the doctor at the hospital?
小明
小明
医生在。你快去吧。
The doctor is there. Hurry and go.