Home/JLPT/JLPT N5 Grammar List/Position words for relative locationJLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 6上・下・前・後ろ・中・外・隣・近くPosition words for relative location
You’ll be able to describe exactly where something sits relative to other objects around it.
Read it first猫ねこはテーブルの下したにいます。
▶neko wa teeburu no shita ni imasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
✓The cat is under the table.
Why it means thatDescribe where something is relative to another thingThese location words tell you where something is in relation to a reference object. Use の to connect the reference noun to the position word.
Example本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。
▶hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
The book is on the desk.
How it is builtReference noun + の + positionThese position words are nouns. Put the object you are using as the reference first, add の, then the position word. Add に to mark where something exists.
Reference noun+の+Position word+にExamples机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。
▶tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
There is a book on the desk.
上うえ can mean on or above; the context tells you whether there is contact.
猫ねこは椅子いすの下したにいます。
▶neko wa isu no shita ni imasu.
The cat is under the chair.
下した places something lower than the reference object.
店みせの前まえに車くるまがあります。
▶mise no mae ni kuruma ga arimasu.
There is a car in front of the shop.
前まえ marks the space at the front of the reference object.
木きの後うしろに猫ねこがいます。
▶ki no ushiro ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat behind the tree.
後うしろ marks the space at the back of the reference object.
かばんの中なかに鍵かぎがあります。
▶kaban no naka ni kagi ga arimasu.
There is a key inside the bag.
中なか places something within the boundaries of the reference object.
家いえの外そとに犬いぬがいます。
▶ie no soto ni inu ga imasu.
The dog is outside the house.
外そと places something beyond the boundaries of the reference object.
銀行ぎんこうは駅えきの隣となりにあります。
▶ginkou wa eki no tonari ni arimasu.
The bank is next to the station.
隣となり means directly next to or neighboring the reference place.
駅えきの近ちかくにホテルがあります。
▶eki no chikaku ni hoteru ga arimasu.
There is a hotel near the station.
近ちかく means nearby; it does not have to be directly beside the station.
Examples本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。
▶hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
The book is on the desk.
ドアの上うえに時計とけいがあります。
▶doa no ue ni tokei ga arimasu.
There is a clock above the door.
猫ねこはベッドの下したにいます。
▶neko wa beddo no shita ni imasu.
The cat is under the bed.
14 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.
Practise itWork through 上・下・前・後ろ・中・外・隣・近く step by step in the JLPT N5 Grammar Path — with interactive dialogue and recall activities, then a checkpoint at the end of Chapter 6.
Start this lesson← Previousに (existence)Marks where something existsNext →どう・どうやってAsk how something is or how it’s done