Lesson 4: Asking about locations at the university

半

Learn how to use 在, 地点, and 的 through everyday life topics.

14 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~11 min

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Vocabulary14 words

半bànNumeral

1.half
2.half (used after a number)
3.semi-, half- (prefix meaning 'half')

Examples

现在是两点半。

xiànzàishìliǎngdiǎnbàn。

It is now half past two.

我吃了半个苹果。

wǒchīlebàngèpíngguǒ。

I ate half an apple.

本běnNoun

1.root
2.basic, main
3.volume (measure word for books, notebooks, etc.)

Examples

我有一本汉语书。

wǒyǒuyìběnhànyǔshū。

I have a Chinese book.

这是我的书本。

zhèshìwǒdeshūběn。

These are my books.

大学dàxuéNoun

1.university
2.The Great Learning (one of the Four Books of Confucianism)

Examples

我的姐姐在大学学习。

wǒdejiějiezàidàxuéxuéxí。

My older sister studies at university.

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。

tāgāoxìngdìxiàole。

He smiled happily.

地上有一本书。

dìshàngyǒuyìběnshū。

There is a book on the ground.

等děngNoun

1.rank, class, grade
2.to wait

Examples

我是第一等。

wǒshìdìyīděng。

I am first-class.

请等一下。

qǐngděngyíxià。

Please wait a moment.

花huāNoun

1.flower
2.pattern; design
3.to spend (money)

Examples

花园里有很多花。

huāyuánlǐyǒuhěnduōhuā。

There are many flowers in the garden.

不要花太多钱。

búyàohuātàiduōqián。

Don't spend too much money.

间jiānNoun

1.middle; in the middle
2.room
3.within (a span of time or space)

Examples

房间在中间。

fángjiānzàizhōngjiān。

The room is in the middle.

请等一下，一分钟之间。

qǐngděngyíxià，yìfēnzhōngzhījiān。

Please wait a moment, within one minute.

口kǒuNoun

1.mouth
2.(measure word for people in a family or household)

Examples

我家有三口人。

wǒjiāyǒusānkǒurén。

There are three people in my family.

请张开嘴。

qǐngzhāngkāizuǐ。

Please open your mouth.

前qiánNoun

1.in front, front
2.before, previously
3.the future, ahead

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.

上shàngNoun

1.on, above, on top of
2.to go up, to ascend
3.to get on (a car, train, plane)

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.

身上shēnshàngPhrase

1.on one's body, on the body
2.on one's person (carried, on hand)

Examples

我的钥匙在身上。

wǒdeyàoshizàishēnshàng。

My keys are on me.

他身上有很多钱。

tāshēnshàngyǒuhěnduōqián。

He has a lot of money on him.

手shǒuNoun

1.hand
2.a person skilled in a particular fieldused in compound words for people in a profession (e.g. singer)

Examples

我的手很冷。

wǒdeshǒuhěnlěng。

My hands are very cold.

他是一名歌手。

tāshìyìmínggēshǒu。

He is a singer.

天tiānNoun

1.sky, heaven
2.day

Examples

今天天气很好。

jīntiāntiānqìhěnhǎo。

The weather is very nice today.

天上有白云。

tiānshàngyǒubáiyún。

There are white clouds in the sky.

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？

xiàyízhànshìnǎlǐ？

Where is the next stop?

Grammar

Where an action takes place

S + 在 + 地点 + 动词

This pattern is used to talk about the place where an action is happening. It is often combined with location words such as 上 (above), 下 (below), 前 (front), 间 (between).

书在桌子上的。

shūzàizhuōzishàngde。

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.

大学的地很大。

dàxuédedìhěndà。

The university's grounds are very large.

Dialogues

Asking about locations at the university

Two new students meet on campus.

Nam

你好！你是这个大学的学生吗？

nǐhǎo！nǐshìzhègedàxuédexuéshēngma？

Hello! Are you a student at this university?

Hoa

是，我是。你也是吗？

shì，wǒshì。nǐyěshìma？

Yes, I am. Are you too?

Nam

是。你看，前面有很大的花，很漂亮。

shì。nǐkàn，qiánmiànyǒuhěndàdehuā，hěnpiàoliang。

Yes. Look, there are big flowers up ahead, very pretty.

Hoa

花在哪里？哦，在图书馆的前面。

huāzàinǎlǐ？ò，zàitúshūguǎndeqiánmiàn。

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

Nam

对。你想去图书馆吗？图书馆在那个大房子的下边。

duì。nǐxiǎngqùtúshūguǎnma？túshūguǎnzàinàgedàfángzidexiàbiān。

Right. Do you want to go to the library? The library is below that big building.

Hoa

我想去。我们去吧！

wǒxiǎngqù。wǒmenqùba！

I want to go. Let's go!