方向与方位 Direction and place · 单词与话题

You use direction words when giving or following directions. Prepositions of place tell where things are. Direction and movement words tell where things go.

Prepositions of place (方位介词):

in: inside something ○ [in the box]
on: on top of something ○ [on the table]
under: below something ○ [under the chair]
above: higher than ○ [above my head]
below: lower than ○ [below sea level]
next to / beside: at the side of ○ [next to the window]
between: with things on both sides ○ [between two trees]
behind: at the back of ○ [behind the door]
in front of: at the front ○ [in front of the house]
inside: within something ○ [inside the building]
outside: not inside ○ [outside the house]

Direction words (方向词):

go straight: continue in same direction
turn left / turn right: change direction
go up / go down: move higher or lower
go through: pass from one side to other
go around: move in circle or bypass
go into / enter: get inside
come out / exit: get outside
go across: move from one side to other

Giving directions (指路):
A: Excuse me, where is the library?
B: Go straight down this street for two blocks. Turn left at the corner. The library is on your right, between the park and the bank. You can't miss it.
A: Is it far?
B: No, it's about 5 minutes' walk. It's across from the supermarket.

Asking for clarification:

"Did you say left or right?"
"Which corner? First or second?"
"Is it near the [landmark]?"

Practice: Give directions from your home to your school using direction words from this lesson.