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

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Vocabulary6 words

等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。

wǒshìdìyīděng。

I am first-class.

请等一下。

qǐngděngyíxià。

Please wait a moment.

上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。

wǒmenshàngchēba。

Let's get in the car.

下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？

xiàyízhànshìnǎli？

Where is the next stop?

前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。

xuéxiàoqiánmiànyǒuyígèshāngdiàn。

There is a shop in front of the school.

我前天去了北京。

wǒqiántiānqùleběijīng。

I went to Beijing the day before yesterday.

间jiānNoun

1.middle; in the middle
2.room
3.within (a span of time or space)
4.(measure word for rooms, houses)e.g. 一间房 (a room), 一间教室 (a classroom)

Examples

房间在中间。

fángjiānzàizhōngjiān。

The room is in the middle.

北京和上海之间有火车。

běijīnghéshànghǎizhījiānyǒuhuǒchē。

There are trains between Beijing and Shanghai.

地dìNoun

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。

tāgāoxìngdexiàole。

He smiled happily.

地上有一本书。

dìshangyǒuyìběnshū。

There is a book on the ground.

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。

tāzàidàxuédeqiánmiàn。

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。

zhèshìwǒdeshǒu。

This is my hand.

大学的图书馆很大。

dàxuédetúshūguǎnhěndà。

The university's library is very big.

Dialogues

Asking about locations at the university

Two new students meet on campus.

小南

你好！你是这个大学的学生吗？

nǐhǎo！nǐshìzhègedàxuédexuéshēngma？

Hello! Are you a student at this university?

小花

是，我是。你也是吗？

shì，wǒshì。nǐyěshìma？

Yes, I am. Are you too?

小南

是。你看，前面有很多花，很好看。

shì。nǐkàn，qiánmiànyǒuhěnduōhuā，hěnhǎokàn。

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

小花

花在哪里？哦，在图书馆的前面。

huāzàinǎli？ò，zàitúshūguǎndeqiánmiàn。

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

小南

对。你想去图书馆吗？图书馆在那个大楼的旁边。

duì。nǐxiǎngqùtúshūguǎnma？túshūguǎnzàinàgedàlóudepángbiān。

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

小花

我想去。我们去吧！

wǒxiǎngqù。wǒmenqùba！

I want to go. Let's go!

小南

我们先去图书馆吧，我要上楼拿书。

wǒmenxiānqùtúshūguǎnba，wǒyàoshànglóunáshū。

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

小花

好。图书馆里边有洗手间吗？

hǎo。túshūguǎnlǐbianyǒuxǐshǒujiānma？

OK. Is there a washroom inside the library?

小南

有。前边有一间，下边还有一间。

yǒu。qiánbianyǒuyìjiān，xiàbianháiyǒuyìjiān。

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

小花

好，我在楼下等你。地上有水，你慢一点儿走。

hǎo，wǒzàilóuxiàděngnǐ。dìshàngyǒushuǐ，nǐmànyìdiǎnrzǒu。

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