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Grammar I - 04.02
Describing Where Things Are
 

You can ask for the location of item X, using doko (where).

マクドナルド は どこ です か Where is McDonald's?

makudonarudo wa doko desu ka?

 
   
マクドナルド は あそこ/そこ/ここ です

McDonald's is over there / right there near you / right here.

makudonarudo wa asoko / soko / koko desu.

 
   
  You can describe where things are by using some of the location words below:
みぎ to the right of
migi  
ひだり to the left of
hidari  
まえ

in front of

mae

 
うしろ

behind

ushiro  
なか inside
naka  
うえ on/above
ue  
した

under/beneath

shita  
そば near, at the side of
soba  
ちかく near

chikaku

 
となり next to (both objects are in the same category)
tonari  
よこ beside (in relation to another item, even is they are quite distinct)

yoko

 
   
  The format is as follows:
X は Y の /location word/ です

X is /location/ Y.

   
ぎんこう は としょかん の となり です。 The bank is next to the library.
ginkoo wa toshokan no tonari desu.  
かさ は テーブル の した です。 The umbrella is under the table.
kasa wa teeburu no shita desu.  
   
 

The particle で - de is used in these cases:

X は Y Z の あいだ です

X is between Y and Z.

レストラン は デパート と びょういん の あいだ です。 The restaurant is between the department store and the hospital.

resutoran wa depaato to byooin no aida desu.

 
   
  One can use any of the above location words together with a verb to describe an event that occurs in the place.
To use these phrases with verbs such as taberu (eat) and matsu (to wait), one will need the particle de.
わたし は  ハーゲンダッツ の まえ で メアリー さん を まちました。 I waited for Mary in front of the Haagen-Dazs place.

watashi-wa haagen-datsu no mae de mearii san wo machimashita.

 
   
 

yoko usage (for the objects in the two distinct classes, categories)

でんわ は トイレ の よこ です。

The telephone is by the restroom.

denwa-wa toire no yoko desu.

 
  not
でんわ は トイレ の となり です。

The telephone is side by side with the restroom

denwa-wa toire no tonari desu.