こんにちは皆さん！私はサクラです。For today's post, we will be talking about vocabulary words used to describe where something is. In one of our earlier posts, ここ (koko)、そこ(soko) and あそこ(asoko) are used to describe a place, but did you know they can also be used to describe where something is? For example, if someone were to ask 「本屋はどこですか」 (Honya wa doko desu ka) or "Where is the bookstore," and you answer "it's over there," you would say 「あそこです」（Asoko desu). However, it may be more idealistic if you were to specify where the object is. Here are some of the terms that may be helpful when describing a location.
1.右 (migi) and 左 (hidari)
右 means "Right" and 左 means "Left." When using those terms to describe where it is, you would say something is to the right or to the left of something.
Examples
Kouen wa depaato no hidari desu.
The park is to the left of the department store.
アミさんはたろうさんの左です。
Ami san wa tarou san no hidari desu.
Amy is to the left of Taro.
郵便局はバス停の右です。
Yuubinkyoku wa basutei no migi desu.
The post office is to the right of the bus stop.
2.前 (mae), 後ろ（ushiro) and 間 (aida)
For location, 前 means "front," 後ろ means "back," and 間 means "in between." Keep in mind, when saying something is between two things, you have to say (Subject) は (item 1) と (item 2) の間です.
Resutoran wa kouen no mae desu.
The restaurant is in front of the park.
Kissaten wa eigakan no ushirou desu.
The cafe is behind the movie theater.
Yumi san wa ken san to arekusandaa san no aida desu.
Yumi is between Ken and Alexander.
3. 上 (ue), 下 (shita) and 中 (naka)
上 means "above" or "on," 下 means "below" or "under," and 中 means "inside." Besides locations, these terms can be useful for describing where objects are in a room as well.
Watashi no hon wa tsukue no ue desu.
My book is on top of the desk.
Neko wa hako no naka da to omoimasu.
I think the cat is inside the box.
かばんはいすの下です。
Kaban wa isu no shita desu.
The bag is under the chair.
4.近く(chikaku) and 隣 (tonari)
The former means "near" or "nearby" while the latter means "next to." Because these words seem similar, when using this, you will need to consider the distance in order to use the correct one.
Ken san wa reisuiki no chikaku desu.
Ken is near the water cooler.
Aisukuri-mu wa okashi no tonari desu.
The ice cream is next to the candy.
Purintaa wa ofuisu no chikaku desu.
The printer is near the office.
There is a chance there are other words to describe where things are. But these terms are the most common terms to describe where something is. The main thing is to make sure to use them properly when the question of where something is arises.
That’s it for today’s lesson! これが終わります！ありがとうございました！
Source(s) I Have Used for Additional Information:
koko, soko, asoko, doko-www.japanesewithanime.com
Illustration was made by yours-truly
