Lesson 4: Asking about locations at the university

图书馆

Learn 在 + 地点 and 的 + 名词 through Asking about locations at the university.

6 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~11 min

Vocabulary6 words

Noun
  • 1.ground, earth
  • 2.place, localityOften used in compound words.
  • 3.-ly (structural particle forming adverbs)Used after an adverb and before a verb or adjective to modify it.

Examples

他高兴地笑了。

gāoxìngdexiàole

He smiled happily.

地上有一本书。

shangyǒuběnshū

There is a book on the ground.

děngNoun
  • 1.rank, class, grade
  • 2.to wait
  • 3.etc., and so one.g. …等 (etc.), 等等 (and so on)

Examples

我是第一等。

shìděng

I am first-class.

请等一下。

qǐngděngxià

Please wait a moment.

jiānNoun
  • 1.middle; in the middle
  • 2.room
  • 3.within (a span of time or space)
  • 4.(measure word for rooms, houses)vd 一间房 (một gian phòng), 一间教室 (một phòng học)

Examples

房间在中间。

fángjiānzàizhōngjiān

The room is in the middle.

北京和上海之间有火车。

běijīngshànghǎizhījiānyǒuhuǒchē

There are trains between Beijing and Shanghai.

qiánNoun
  • 1.in front, front
  • 2.before, previously
  • 3.former, ex- (of a position/title)

Examples

学校前面有一个商店。

xuéxiàoqiánmiànyǒushāngdiàn

There is a shop in front of the school.

我前天去了北京。

qiántiānleběijīng

I went to Beijing the day before yesterday.

shàngNoun
  • 1.on, above, on top of
  • 2.to go up, to ascend
  • 3.to get on (a car, train, plane)
  • 4.last, previous (of time)e.g. 上个月 (last month), 上星期 (last week), 上次 (last time)

Examples

书在桌子上。

shūzàizhuōzishàng

The book is on the table.

我们上车吧。

menshàngchēba

Let's get in the car.

xiàNoun
  • 1.under, below
  • 2.to go down, to descend
  • 3.next (e.g. next time)

Examples

猫在桌子下。

māozàizhuōzixià

The cat is under the table.

下一站是哪里?

xiàzhànshìli

Where is the next stop?

Grammar

Where an action takes place

S + 在 + 地点

Use 在 + place to state location; you may add position words like 上 (on), 下 (under), 前 (front), 里 (inside).

书在桌子上。

shūzàizhuōzishàng

The book is on the table.

他在大学的前面。

zàixuédeqiánmiàn

He is in front of the university.

Showing possession or relationship

S + 的 + 名词

Add '的' after a noun or pronoun to show the possession or relationship of that person/thing with another noun. For example, '大学的花' means 'the flowers of the university'.

这是我的手。

zhèshìdeshǒu

This is my hand.

大学的图书馆很大。

xuédeshūguǎnhěn

The university's library is very big.

Dialogues

Asking about locations at the university

Two new students meet on campus.

小南
小南

你好!你是这个大学的学生吗?

hǎoshìzhègexuédexuéshēngma

Hello! Are you a student at this university?

小花
小花

是,我是。你也是吗?

shìshìshìma

Yes, I am. Are you too?

小南
小南

是。你看,前面有很多花,很好看。

shìkànqiánmiànyǒuhěnduōhuāhěnhǎokàn

Yes. Look, there are lots of flowers up ahead, very good-looking.

小花
小花

花在哪里?哦,在图书馆的前面。

huāzàiliòzàishūguǎndeqiánmiàn

Where are the flowers? Oh, in front of the library.

小南
小南

对。你想去图书馆吗?图书馆在那个大楼的旁边。

duìxiǎngshūguǎnmashūguǎnzàigelóudepángbiān

Right. Do you want to go to the library? It’s next to that big building.

小花
小花

我想去。我们去吧!

xiǎngmenba

I want to go. Let's go!

小南
小南

我们先去图书馆吧,我要上楼拿书。

menxiānshūguǎnbayàoshànglóushū

Let's go to the library first — I need to go upstairs and get a book.

小花
小花

好。图书馆里边有洗手间吗?

hǎoshūguǎnbianyǒushǒujiānma

OK. Is there a washroom inside the library?

小南
小南

有。前边有一间,下边还有一间。

yǒuqiánbianyǒujiānxiàbianháiyǒujiān

Yes. One at the front, and one more downstairs.

小花
小花

好,我在楼下等你。地上有水,你慢一点儿走。

hǎozàilóuxiàděngshàngyǒushuǐmàndiǎnrzǒu

OK, I'll wait for you downstairs. There's water on the floor — walk slowly.