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日本語 
Do you know how to express positions in Japanese through directions? In other words, how do you say up, down, left and right?
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Level 1: Above, Below, Left, Right
To describe the positions in Japanese for something or someone, you can use these 2 sentence patterns:
1. ～(noun)は～(noun)の～(position)にあります/います
(~ wa ~ no ~ ni arimasu/imasu)
For example:
上: Above/on
かばんはいすの上にあります
kabanwa isuno ueni arimasu
The bag is on the chair
下: Below/under
犬は木(き)の下にいます
ikuwa kino shitani arimasu
The dog is under the tree.
2. ～(noun)の～(position)に～(noun)があります/います
(~ no ~ ni ~ ga arimasu/imasu)
For example:
左: Left
ペンの左に携帯(けいたい)があります
Penno hidarini keitaiga arimasu
There is a phone on the left side of the pen.
右: Right
(Note: This perspective is referring to the student when they’re facing a listener in front of them)
私(わたし)の右に先生(せんせい)がいます
Watashino migini senseiga imasu
There is a teacher on my right.
Level 2: inside, outside, behind, and in front of
Vocabulary list
Inside/in: 中 (なか naka )
Outside: 外 (そと soto)
In front: 前 (まえ mae)
Behind: 後ろ (うしろ ushiro)
You can also use the 2 sentence patterns above to form a sentence.
For example
中: Inside
りんごはバスケットの中にあります。
Ringowa basukettono nakani arimasu
The apples are in the basket.
外: Outside
家(いえ)の外に自転車(じでんしゃ)があります。
Ieno sotoni jidenshaga arimasu
There is a bike outside my house.
前: In front
テレビの前にボールがあります。
Terebino maeni bouruga arimasu
There is a ball in front of the TV．
後ろ: Behind
子供(こども)の後ろ(うしろ)にねこがいます。
Kodomono ushironi nekoga imasu
There is a cat behind the kid．
Level 3: Beside, Nearby
The 3rd level of Japanese Position words are隣(となり tonari) 近く(ちかく chikaku)
隣 means “beside something” and 近くmeans “nearby something”
Let’s look at some example sentences.
隣(となり): Beside something
病院の隣にコンビニがあります。
Byouinno tonarini connbiniga arimasu
There is a convenience store beside the hospital.
近く: Nearby something
この近くに銀行があります。
Konochikakuni ginkouga arimasu
There is a bank nearby.
List of Vocabulary
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| 上 | Ue | Above/ on |
| 下 | Shita | Below/ under |
| 左 | Hidari | Left |
| 右 | Migi | Right |
| 中 | Naka | Inside |
| 外 | Soto | Outside |
| 前 | Mae | In Front of |
| 後ろ | Ushiro | Behind |
| 隣 | Tonari | Beside |
| 近く | Chikaku | Nearby |
Now you know the 10 common Japanese positioning words, do you know how to ask for directions in Japanese?
