How do you convey "location" in Japanese? Japanese expressions for location can be expressed differently even when they refer to the same location. To accurately convey location in Japanese, it is easier to understand if you add a noun indicating a reference before the expression for location. There are set formulas for expressions to convey location.
When communicating location, connect the expression indicating location and the noun indicating reference with "no (no)" and remember that the basic format is "noun + no + location expression."
1. Before ~ (~ no mae)
When used to express location, "mae" means the front side of an object or in front of you. Saying "in front of ~ (~ no mae)" expresses that something is in front of a certain position. However, the phrase "in front of ~ (~ no m ae)" can also be used to express time or order. Be sure not to confuse the meaning.
Example sentences
I'm in front of the door.
Watashi wa, tobira no mae ni imasu.
I'm in front of the door.
Example sentences
The cat is sleeping in front of the chair.
Neko ga, isu no mae de nete imasu.
A cat is sleeping in front of the chair.
Example sentences
The car was parked in front of the garage.
Kuruma wa, shako no mae ni tomemashita.
The car parked in front of the garage.
2. Behind ~ (~ no ushiro)
"Ushiro" (behind) used to express location is the opposite of "in front." By saying "behind ~ (~ no ushiro)," you express that something is behind a certain position. "Behind ~ (~ no ushiro)" and "after ~ (~ no ato)" use the same kanji, but they are pronounced differently and have different meanings. "After ~ (~ no ato)" is an expression used when conveying the order of things. Therefore, when conveying a location, use "behind ~ (~ no ushiro)."
Example sentences
Flowers bloom behind the trees.
Hana wa, ki no ushiro ni saite imasu.
The flowers are blooming behind the tree.
Example sentences
Salt is behind sugar.
Shio wa, satō no ushiro ni arimasu.
The salt is behind the sugar.
Example sentences
Behind the mountains is the sea.
Yama no ushiro wa, umi desu.
Beyond the mountain is the sea.
3. Next to ~ (~ no yoko)
"Yoko"refers to a horizontal location. "Next to ~ (~ no yoko)" can be used for anything on the horizon, regardless of distance. For example, "the building next to the station" does not only refer to the single building directly next to the station, but also includes other buildings on the same line as the station.
Example sentences
Next to the field is a river.
Hatake no yoko wa, kawa desu.
Beside the field is a river.
Example sentences
There is a dog next to me.
Boku no yoko ni, inu ga imasu.
There's a dog beside me.
Example sentences
The telephone is next to the refrigerator.
Denwa wa, reizōko no yoko ni arimasu.
The phone is located alongside the fridge.
4. Next to ~ (~ no tonari)
The location expression "tonari" refers to the nearest object on the left or right line. It is used regardless of size or distance, such as "the country next to Japan" or "the person next to Mr./Ms. XX." "Tonari" and "yoko" are similar expressions, but the range of objects they refer to is slightly different. For example, imagine there are three apples next to a mandarin orange. If you use "yoko" to say "the apples next to the mandarin oranges," all three apples are included. However, if you use "tonari" to say "the apple next to the mandarin oranges," only the apple closest to the mandarin orange is referred to.
Example sentences
My seat is next to Yamamoto-san.
Watashi no seki wa, Yamamoto-san no tonari desu.
My seat is next to Mrs. Yamamoto.
Example sentences
A new building has been built next to the station.
Eki no tonari ni, atarashī biru ga dekita.
The new building was built next to the station.
Example sentences
Hello, can I sit next to you?
Kon'nichiwa, anata no tonari ni suwatte mo iidesu ka?
Hello, can I sit next to you?
5. To the right of ~
"To the right of ~ (~ no migi)" is an expression that conveys that the object in question is on the right side.
Example sentences
Please place the miso soup to the right of the rice.
Misoshiru wa, gohan no migi ni oite kudasai.
Place the miso soup to the right of the rice.
Example sentences
There is a shoe store to the right of the barber shop.
Tokoya no migi ni, kutsuya ga arimasu
There is a shoe store on the right side of the barber.
Example sentences
Yoshida is to Yamada's right.
Yoshida-san wa, Yamada-san no migi ni imasu.
Mr. Yoshida is to the right of Mr. Yamada.
6. To the left of ~ (~ no hidari)
"～no hidari" (～no hidari) is an expression that conveys that an object is on the left side. In Japanese, "right" and "left" mean "right" and "left" respectively, but the kanji are similar and easy to confuse, so be careful.
Example sentences
I turn left at the post office.
Watashi wa, yūbinkyoku no hidari wo magari masu.
I turn left at the post office.
Example sentences
Korea is to the left of Japan.
Kankoku wa, Nihon no hidari ni arimasu.
South Korea is to the left of Japan.
Example sentences
My house is the one on the left side of the park.
Watashi no ie wa, kōen no hidari no ie desu.
My house is to the left of the park.
7. Above (above)
"Above ~ (~ no ue)" is used to convey that the object in question is located at a high place when viewed three-dimensionally.
Example sentences
The apples are on the shelf.
Ringo wa, tana no ue ni arimasu.
The apples are on the shelves.
Example sentences
A bird landed on my head.
Atama no ue ni, tori ga tomarimashita.
The bird perched on my head.
Example sentences
On top of the hill is a large field.
Oka no ue wa, hiroi nohara desu.
The top of the hill is a large field.
8. Under ~ (~ no shita)
The word "shita" used in positional expressions indicates the opposite direction of "up." "~ no shita" conveys that the object in question is lower than the reference point.
Example sentences
The garbage was buried under this soil.
Kono tsuchi no shita ni, gomi wo ume mashita.
I buried garbage under this soil.
Example sentences
Today we had dinner under the cherry blossom trees.
Kyō wa, sakura no ki no shita de shokuji wo shimashita.
Today, I ate under the cherry blossoms.
Example sentences
The crab is under the rock.
Kani wa, iwa no shita ni imasu.
The crab is under the rock.
9. In the middle of ~ (~ no naka)
The location expression "naka" is a word that describes the inside of a certain space. "~ no naka" is mainly used for buildings, furniture, liquids, etc. It is also used as a metaphor, for example, when expressing "inside one's heart."
Example sentences
The bag is full of mandarin oranges.
Fukuro no naka wa, mikan de ippai desu.
The bag is full of oranges.
Example sentences
The cafeteria is located inside the company.
Shokudō wa, kaisha no naka ni arimasu.
The cafeteria is inside the company.
Example sentences
There is a mouse in this house.
kono ie no naka ni, nezumi ga imasu.
There is a mouse in this house.
10. Outside of ~ (~ no soto)
"~ no soto" is used to convey that something is outside or outside a certain space.
Example sentences
It's noisy outside the school.
Gakkō no soto ga, sawagashī.
It's noisy outside the school.
Example sentences
You can wait outside the store.
Anata wa, omise no soto de matteite kudasai.
Please wait outside the store.
Example sentences
It's snowing outside the window.
Mado no soto wa, yuki ga futte iru.
It's snowing outside the window.
1.Near ~ (~ no chikaku)
"~ no chikaku" is an expression that conveys that something is close. Different people have different perceptions of distance. There are many ways to express this, such as "near the station" or "near America."
Example sentences
I live near the police station.
Watashi wa, kōban no chikaku ni sundeimasu.
I live near the police box.
Example sentences
Let's walk to the lake.
Mizūmi no chikaku made, aruki mashō.
Let's walk up to the lake.
Example sentences
The air is clean near the forest.
Mori no chikaku wa, kūki ga kireida.
The air is clean near the forest.
12. Across from ~ (~ no mukai)
The positional expression "mukai" refers to something that is directly in front of you or facing you. "~ no mukai" is also used to express that something is across the street from you.
"Mukai" (across the street) and "mae" (front) have slightly different meanings. For example, if you say "the store in front of the station" using "mae" (front), it includes multiple stores located in front of the station. However, if you use "mukai" (across the street) and say "the store across from the station," it refers to just the one store located in front of the station.
Example sentences
The sushi restaurant is across from the post office.
Sushi-ya wa, yūbinkyoku no mukai ni aru.
The sushi restaurant is across from the post office.
Example sentences
Please meet me in the parking lot across from the pharmacy.
Yakkyoku no mukai no chūshajō ni, kite kudasai.
Please come to the parking lot opposite the pharmacy.
Example sentences
Opposite the house is a large vacant lot.
Ie no mukai wa, hiroi akichi desu.
The other side of the house is a large vacant lot.
There are many other expressions to express location in Japanese besides those introduced in this article. To accurately communicate location to others, it is important to choose the appropriate expression for location depending on the situation. Practice various expressions using example sentences. If you feel that the example sentences are not enough, why not study Japanese seriously and become able to say various Japanese expressions?
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