{"id":182305,"date":"2018-02-27T04:15:09","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T09:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/chinese-prepositions\/"},"modified":"2025-06-02T09:12:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T13:12:23","slug":"chinese-prepositions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/chinese-prepositions\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Common Chinese Prepositions and How to Use Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike in English, prepositions or \u4ecb\u8bcd <\/strong>(ji\u00e8 c\u00ed)<\/em> in Chinese are often found in all different parts of Mandarin sentence structures. They can appear between nouns, at the beginning of the sentence and sometimes even at the end.<\/p>\n

So let’s go over 25 of the most common Chinese prepositions and their placement in sentences.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

1. \u5173\u4e8e (gu\u0101n y\u00fa)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 About<\/h2>\n

\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u770b\u5173\u4e8e<\/strong>\u732b\u7684\u7535\u5f71\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 x\u01d0 hu\u0101n k\u00e0n gu\u0101n y\u00fa<\/strong> m\u0101o de di\u00e0n y\u01d0ng.)
\n<\/em>I like to watch movies about<\/strong> cats.<\/p>\n

Note that in this sentence, the preposition comes closer to the beginning.<\/p>\n

2. \u4ee5\u4e0a (y\u01d0 sh\u00e0ng)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Above, More\u00a0<\/h2>\n

\u4ed6\u6709\u4e09\u767e\u672c\u4ee5\u4e0a<\/strong>\u7684\u4e66\u3002
\n(t\u0101 y\u01d2u s\u0101n b\u01cei b\u011bn y\u01d0 sh\u00e0ng<\/strong> de sh\u016b.)
\n<\/em>He has three hundred or more<\/strong> books.<\/p>\n

The preposition links \u4ed6\u6709\u4e09\u672c to the concept of having more than three <\/em>books, but not a precise number.<\/p>\n

3. \u5176\u4e2d (q\u00ed zh\u014dng)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Among<\/h2>\n

\u4f60\u662f\u5176\u4e2d<\/strong>\u6700\u5e05\u7684\u4e00\u4e2a\u3002
\n(n\u01d0 sh\u00ec q\u00ed zh\u014dng<\/strong> zu\u00ec shu\u00e0i de y\u012b g\u00e8.)
\n<\/em>You are the most handsome one among<\/strong> them.<\/p>\n

In Chinese, the preposition is at the forefront of this sentence, connecting \u4f60\u662f with the idea of being handsome. The preposition helps make it clear that the person you’re talking to is the most handsome person in the group.<\/p>\n

4. \u5728 (z\u00e0i)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 At<\/h2>\n

\u6211\u4f1a\u5728<\/strong>\u5bb6\u91cc\u7b49\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 hu\u00ec z\u00e0i<\/strong> ji\u0101 l\u01d0 d\u011bng.)
\n<\/em>I will wait at<\/strong> home.<\/p>\n

This preposition is in a spot that makes more sense to beginners, but it may still seem a bit off because the direct translation is, “I will, at home, wait.”<\/p>\n

5. \u524d (qi\u00e1n)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Before<\/h2>\n

\u4e2d\u5348\u524d<\/strong>\u56de\u5bb6\u3002
\n(zh\u014dng w\u01d4 qi\u00e1n<\/strong> hu\u00ed ji\u0101.)
\n<\/em>Go home before<\/strong> noon.<\/p>\n

\u524d can also be used as a noun in a sentence. So remember to look for context clues!<\/p>\n

In this sentence, the time description comes first, then the preposition, then the action. Remember, Mandarin typically follows SVO sentence structure.<\/p>\n

6. \u65c1 (p\u00e1ng)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Beside<\/h2>\n

\u5979\u5f85\u5728\u6e29\u6696\u7684\u7bdd\u706b\u65c1<\/strong>\u8fb9\u3002
\n(t\u0101 d\u00e0i z\u00e0i w\u0113n nu\u01cen de g\u014du hu\u01d2 p\u00e1ng<\/strong> bi\u0101n.)
\n<\/em>She stays beside<\/strong> the warm bonfire.<\/p>\n

7. \u4e4b\u95f4 (zh\u012b ji\u0101n)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Among, Between<\/h2>\n

\u6211\u5728\u5f88\u591a\u4efb\u52a1\u4e4b\u95f4\u5207\u6362<\/strong>\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 z\u00e0i h\u011bn du\u014d r\u00e8n w\u00f9 zh\u012b ji\u0101n <\/strong>qi\u0113 hu\u00e0n.)
\n<\/em>I switch among many tasks..<\/p>\n

The rough translation of this sentence is “I’m here, jobs in between.”<\/p>\n

The sentence establishes the existence of the subject, the existence of the possession of jobs or gigs and the\u00a0distinction of not exactly possessing a job yet.<\/p>\n

8. \u7531 (y\u00f3u)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Is, For<\/h2>\n

\u8fd9\u7531<\/strong>\u6211\u8d1f\u8d23\u3002
\n(zh\u00e8 y\u00f3u<\/strong> w\u01d2 f\u00f9 z\u00e9.)
\n<\/em>I am responsible for<\/strong> this.<\/p>\n

Literally, “This is my responsibility.”<\/p>\n

9. \u5c3d\u7ba1 (j\u01d0n gu\u01cen)<\/em> \u2014 Despite<\/h2>\n

\u5c3d\u7ba1<\/strong>\u4f60\u4e0d\u5b8c\u7f8e\uff0c\u6211\u4ecd\u7136\u7231\u4f60\u3002
\n(j\u01d0n gu\u01cen<\/strong> n\u01d0 b\u00f9 w\u00e1n m\u011bi, w\u01d2 r\u00e9ng r\u00e1n \u00e0i n\u01d0.)
\n<\/em>I love you despite<\/strong> the fact that you are not perfect.<\/p>\n

Like I mentioned before, sometimes prepositions come right at the start of the sentence. In this sentence specifically, the addition of \u5c3d\u7ba1 changes the meaning of the statement \u4f60\u6709\u7f3a\u9677 from “you have flaws” to “<\/em>despite you having flaws.”<\/p>\n

10. \u9664\u4e86 (ch\u00fa le)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Except (for)<\/h2>\n

\u9664\u4e86<\/strong>\u590f\u6797\u6ca1\u6709\u4eba\u6765\u3002
\n(ch\u00fa le<\/strong> xi\u00e0 l\u00edn m\u00e9i y\u01d2u r\u00e9n l\u00e1i.)
\n<\/em>No one came\u00a0except for<\/strong>\u00a0Xia Lin.<\/p>\n

Notice the location of this one at the front of the sentence, once again.<\/p>\n

11. \u4e3a\u4e86 (w\u00e8i le)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 For<\/h2>\n

\u5979\u4f1a\u4e3a\u4e86<\/strong>\u7231\u800c\u505a\u4efb\u4f55\u4e8b\u60c5\u3002
\n(t\u0101 hu\u00ec w\u00e8i le<\/strong> \u00e0i \u00e9r zu\u00f2 r\u00e8n h\u00e9 sh\u00ec q\u00edng.)
\n<\/em>She will do anything for<\/strong> love.<\/p>\n

This one literally says, “She will, for love, do anything.” Note that you may sometimes see \u5bf9\u4e8e<\/strong>\u00a0(du\u00ec y\u00fa)<\/em> in place of \u4e3a\u4e86.<\/p>\n

\u4e3a\u4e86 is also notably different from number eight above, \u7531, which can also mean “for.” \u7531, however, is used as a preposition meaning something is “as the result of” or “because of.” \u4e3a\u4e86 is used to talk about doing something “for the purpose of,” or “in order to” do something.\u00a0<\/p>\n

12. \u5728…\u9644\u8fd1 (z\u00e0i…f\u00f9 j\u00ecn)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Near<\/h2>\n

\u5728<\/strong>\u6559\u5802\u9644\u8fd1
\n<\/strong>(z\u00e0i<\/strong> ji\u00e0o t\u00e1ng f\u00f9 j\u00ecn<\/strong>)
\n<\/em>near<\/strong> the church<\/p>\n

While these three characters are on opposite sides of the phrase, they only make sense when they’re all present.<\/p>\n

13. \u7684 (de)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Of<\/h2>\n

\u4ed6\u6240\u6709\u7684<\/strong>\u670b\u53cb\u90fd\u5f88\u6709\u8da3\u3002
\n(t\u0101 su\u01d2 y\u01d2u de<\/strong> p\u00e9ng y\u01d2u d\u014du h\u011bn y\u01d2u q\u00f9.)
\n<\/em>All of<\/strong> his friends are fun.<\/p>\n

\u7684 is a preposition you’ll see a lot<\/em> in Mandarin. Be aware that this word can also be used to announce possession, as in:<\/p>\n

\u4f60\u662f\u6211\u7684\u670b\u53cb\u3002
\n(n\u01d0 sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de p\u00e9ng y\u01d2u.)
\n<\/em>You are my friend.<\/p>\n

The addition of \u7684 in this sentence changes the word \u6211 from “me” to \u6211\u7684, “my.”<\/p>\n

14. \u81f3\u4e8e (zh\u00ec y\u00fa) <\/em>\u2014 As for<\/h2>\n

\u81f3\u4e8e<\/strong>\u6211\uff0c\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u7f8e\u98df\u3002
\n(zh\u00ec y\u00fa<\/strong> w\u01d2, w\u01d2 x\u01d0 hu\u0101n m\u011bi sh\u00ed.)
\n<\/em>As for<\/strong> me, I love delicious food.<\/p>\n

\u81f3\u4e8e is another really convenient and simple preposition that almost always comes at the beginning of a sentence.<\/p>\n

15. \u5916 (w\u00e0i)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Outside<\/h2>\n

\u5728\u9910\u5385\u5916<\/strong>\u9762\u7b49\u3002
\n(z\u00e0i c\u0101n t\u012bng w\u00e0i<\/strong> mi\u00e0n d\u011bng.)
\n<\/em>Wait outside<\/strong> of the restaurant.<\/p>\n

16. \u81ea (z\u00ec)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Since<\/h2>\n

\u5979\u81ea<\/strong>\u751f\u75c5\u540e\uff0c\u5c31\u53d8\u5f97\u5f88\u6194\u60b4\u3002
\n(t\u0101 z\u00ec<\/strong> sh\u0113ng b\u00ecng h\u00f2u, ji\u00f9 bi\u00e0n d\u00e9 h\u011bn qi\u00e1o cu\u00ec.)
\n<\/em>She has gotten haggard-looking since<\/strong> she got sick.<\/p>\n

17. \u6bd4 (b\u01d0)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Than<\/h2>\n

\u4f60\u6bd4<\/strong>\u6211\u597d\u3002
\n(n\u01d0 b\u01d0<\/strong> w\u01d2 h\u01ceo.)
\n<\/em>You are better than<\/strong> me.<\/p>\n

This preposition comes directly after the subject of the sentence.<\/p>\n

18. \u901a\u8fc7 (t\u014dng gu\u00f2)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Through<\/h2>\n

\u901a\u8fc7<\/strong>\u5927\u95e8
\n(t\u014dng guo<\/strong> d\u00e0 m\u00e9n)
\n<\/em>through<\/strong> the gate<\/p>\n

19. \u81f3 (zh\u00ec)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Until<\/h2>\n

\u6211\u4e0a\u4e5d\u70b9\u81f3<\/strong>\u4e94\u70b9\u7684\u73ed\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 sh\u00e0ng ji\u01d4 di\u01cen zh\u00ec<\/strong> w\u01d4 di\u01cen de b\u0101n.)
\n<\/em>I have work from nine until<\/strong> five.<\/p>\n

This preposition makes more sense to English speakers than many other prepositions in Mandarin. The rough literal translation here is, “I am at nine until five for work.”<\/p>\n

20. \u4e0b (xi\u00e0)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Under<\/h2>\n

\u6905\u5b50\u7684\u4e0b<\/strong>\u9762
\n(y\u01d0 zi de\u00a0xi\u00e0<\/strong> mian)
\n<\/em>under<\/strong> the chair<\/p>\n

21. \u548c…\u4e00\u8d77 (h\u00e9…y\u012b q\u01d0)\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 With<\/h2>\n

\u548c<\/strong>\u4f60\u4e00\u8d77
\n<\/strong>(h\u00e9<\/strong>\u00a0n\u01d0\u00a0y\u012b q\u01d0<\/strong>)
\n<\/em>with<\/strong> you<\/p>\n

Like \u5728…\u9644\u8fd1 from number 12 above,\u00a0this preposition needs to include every character around the noun or pronoun in order to make sense.<\/p>\n

22. \u4ece (c\u00f3ng)<\/em> \u2014 From<\/h2>\n

\u4ece<\/strong>\u8fd9\u91cc\u5f80\u524d\u8d70\u4e94\u5206\u949f\u3002
\n(c\u00f3ng<\/strong> zh\u00e8 l\u01d0 w\u01ceng qi\u00e1n z\u01d2u w\u01d4 f\u0113n zh\u014dng.)<\/em>
\nFrom<\/strong> here, walk straight ahead for five minutes.<\/p>\n

As you can see, \u4ece is a useful preposition to know for learning directions in Chinese<\/a>.<\/p>\n

23. \u5f80 (w\u01ceng)<\/em> \u2014 To, Toward<\/h2>\n

\u5f80<\/strong>\u5de6\u8d70\u3002
\n(w\u01ceng<\/strong> zu\u01d2 z\u01d2u.)<\/em>
\nGo to<\/strong> the left.<\/p>\n

\u5f80 is another good preposition for directions. This sentence literally says, “To the left, go.”<\/p>\n

24. \u5bf9 (du\u00ec)<\/em> \u2014 To, For<\/h2>\n

\u8fd9\u91cc\u5bf9<\/strong>\u6211\u6765\u8bf4\u592a\u51b7\u4e86\u3002
\n(zh\u00e8 l\u01d0 du\u00ec<\/strong> w\u01d2 l\u00e1i shu\u014d t\u00e0i l\u011bng le.)<\/em>
\nIt’s too cold in here for<\/strong> me.<\/p>\n

As a preposition, \u5bf9 means “to” or “for” as in “with respect to.” So this sentence says, “This place, to me, is too cold.”<\/p>\n

25. \u8ddf (g\u0113n)<\/em> \u2014 With, To<\/h2>\n

\u6211\u60f3\u8ddf<\/strong>\u4f60\u8bf4\u4e00\u4ef6\u4e8b\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng g\u0113n<\/strong> n\u01d0 shu\u014d y\u00ed ji\u00e0n sh\u00ec.)<\/em>
\nI want to say one thing to<\/strong>\u00a0you.<\/p>\n

You may find \u8ddf in place of prepositional phrase number 21 above, \u548c…\u4e00\u8d77.<\/p>\n

How to Practice Chinese Prepositions<\/h2>\n

The best way to get better at using prepositions in Chinese is to make note of them in real-world Mandarin media, such as books, blogs and TV shows. You can also use language learning apps<\/a> and programs to help you get the hang of Chinese prepositions.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/a><\/strong>, for example, is an immersive program that teaches you the language through native Mandarin videos.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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