0071 – Japanese basics (N5-N3) – Position (2 dimensions)

grammar

 

How can I explain the place of my country on the map in Japanese?

 

Two dimensions position (above, below, left, right)

 

When we want to focus on the position of something in the two dimensions (like on the map, book etc), the words

 

 

are typically used.

 

And the grammar pattern that signifies the position is

 

  • ObjectPosition
  • Object no Position ni

 

So, for example (imagine the world map), 

 

アメリカカナダがあります。

amerika no ue ni kanada ga ari masu.

There is Canada above the U.S.A.

 

カナダアメリカがあります。

kanada no shita ni amerika ga ari masu.

There is the U.S.A below Canada.

 

スペインポルトガルがあります。

Supein no hidari ni Porutogaru ga ari masu.

There is Portugal to the left of Spain.

 

ポルトガルスペインがあります。

Porutogaru no migi ni Supein ga ari masu.

There is Spain to the right of Portugal.

 

Two dimensions position (next, near, between)

 

We also have the positions like:

 

 

the grammar pattern is the same to what we’ve seen above, 

 

  • ObjectPosition
  • Object no Position ni

 

but

 

Object1Object2の間に

Object1 to Object2 no aida ni

 

for(aida: between).

 

For example (imagine the world map),

 

カンボジアタイとベトナムがあります。

Kanbojia to tonari ni Tai to Betonamu ga ari masu.

There are Thailand and Vietnam next to Cambodia.

 

マダガスカル近くタンザニアやモザンビークがあります。

Madagasukaru no chikaku ni Tanzania ya Mozambiiku ga ari masu.

There are Tanzania, Mozambique and so on near Madagascar.

 

チリウルグアイの間にアルゼンチンがあります。

Chiri to Uruguai no aida ni Aruzenchin ga ari masu.

There is Argentina between Chile and Uruguay.

 

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