8.2 Position Words
This module will explore position words and how to use them to specify where objects, humans or animals are positioned.
Introduction to position words
Position words are essential for describing where things are in relation to each other. Below is a list of key position words used in Japanese:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 上 （うえ) | ue | up / above / on top of |
| 中 （なか） | naka | in/inside |
| 下 （した） | shita | down / below / under |
| 右 （みぎ） | migi | right |
| 左 （ひだり） | hidari | left |
| 前 （まえ） | mae | front / in front of |
| 後（うし）ろ | ushiro | back/behind |
| *間（あいだ） | aida | between |
| 隣（となり） | tonari | next to |
NOTE: The word 間 is commonly used in the pattern ‘A と B の 間’ (A to B no aida) to indicate ‘between A and B’.
Usage in sentences
1. Using the ‘X は Y の Position’ sentence pattern
To describe the position of something, use a position word in the pattern ‘X は Y の Position’. This structure indicates where X is positioned in relation to Y. For example:
携帯（けいたい）はかばんの中（なか）です。
Keitai wa kaban no naka desu.
The mobile phone is inside the bag.
カフェ（かふぇ）は大学（だいがく）の隣（となり）です。
Kafe wa daigaku no tonari desu.
The café is next to the university.
北海道（ほっかいどう）は東京（とうきょう）の上（うえ）です。
Hokkaidou wa Toukyou no ue desu.
Hokkaido is above Tokyo.
東京（とうきょう）は北海道（ほっかいどう）と京都（きょうと）の間（あいだ）です。
Toukyou wa Hokkaidou to Kyouto no aida desu.
Tokyo is between Hokkaido and Kyoto.
NOTE: The word 間 is commonly used in the pattern ‘A と B の 間’ (A to B no aida) to indicate ‘between A and B’.
2. Using the ‘Y の Position に X があります／がいます’ sentence pattern
This pattern builds on the ‘Y の Position’ structure to indicate that there is an X (something or someone) positioned somewhere in relation to Y. In Module 8.4, we will explore how to use があります (ga ari masu) and がいます (ga i masu) more in depth. For now, here’s a brief overview of how to use key position words in this pattern to describe places:
スーパーの後（うし）ろに神社（じんじゃ）があります。
Suupaa no ushiro ni jinja ga ari masu.
There is a shrine behind the supermarket.
お寺（てら）の前（まえ）に子（こ）どもがいます。
Otera no mae ni kodomo ga i masu.
There are children in front of the temple.
Exercise 1
