の上・
Where English says "on the desk", Japanese says "at the desk's top": the thing, の, a position word, then a particle such as に.
The book is on the desk.
The cat is under the chair.
The convenience store is between the station and the bank.
How to form it
Thing + の + position word + に
A position word is a noun, so の joins it to the thing, and the thing comes first.
Between
A と B + の間に
| Means | Like this | |
|---|---|---|
| 上 | on, above | 机の |
| 下 | under, below | いすの |
| 中 | in, inside | 箱の |
| 外 | outside | 家の |
| 前 | in front of | 店の |
| 後ろ | behind | 車の |
| 隣 | next to, next door to | 銀行の |
| 横 | beside | 机の |
| 近く | near | 駅の |
| 右・左 | right of, left of | ドアの |
| 間 | between | 駅と |
The thing first, the position second
English puts "in" before the thing. Japanese names the thing first. Turned round, it says something else.
Please look inside the box.
The inside of the box.
Please look at the box inside.
A box inside something.
Saying what is where
With ある and いる, the position takes に. Before です it takes nothing.
There is a clock on the shelf.
There is someone outside the gate.
Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?
It's next to the supermarket.
に, で and the other particles
に is where something is, or where it ends up. When something is done there, it is で. Other particles follow in the same way.
There is a bank in front of the station.
Where it is.
I am waiting for a friend in front of the station.
Where something is done.
I put my wallet in my bag.
Did you look under the bed?
The book on the desk: 机の上の本
To pick a thing out by where it is, add one more の, then the thing.
The book on the desk is mine.
Let's meet at the cafe in front of the station.
When "in" and "on" need no position word
に alone already covers "in" and "at". 中 is for the inside of a box, a bag, a fridge or a building. 上 is the top of something or the space over it, so it isn't the "on" of "on the wall".
Not said: 東京の
(I live in Tokyo.)
東京に住んでいます.
There is a calendar on the wall.
壁の上 would be the top of the wall.
There is milk in the refrigerator.
冷蔵庫に is fine too.
隣, 横 or 近く?
The pharmacy is next to the supermarket.
The next one along: the shop next door, the seat next to yours.
There is a wastebasket beside the desk.
At the side of it. Any two things.
There is a convenience store near the station.
Somewhere near it.
Close neighbours
中N4
Straight after an activity, with no の, 中 is read ちゅう: it is going on now.
The department manager is in a meeting.
中N4
Straight after a length of time or a place, it is often read じゅう: all day, all over the world.
I studied at the library all day.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
車の
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which particle?
電車の
Choose an answer to see why.
3"My younger brother lives in Kyoto."
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
Without the thing
When the thing is clear, the position word stands alone.
Please come in.
I'll be waiting outside.
More sentences
There are shoes under the bed.
There are lockers at the back of the classroom.
The post office is between the bank and the library.