Japanese Position Words: Ue, Shita, Mae, Ushiro (with Audio)

The short answer

Pattern: A の [position] に B があります / います: つくえのうえにほんがあります.
Core words: うえ (on/above), した (under), なか (inside), まえ (front), うしろ (behind).
となり = right next to (same type), よこ = beside.
Use あります for things and います for people and animals.

The position words

うえue
on, above
したshita
under, below
なかnaka
inside, in
そとsoto
outside
まえmae
in front of
うしろushiro
behind
みぎmigi
right
ひだりhidari
left
となりtonari
next to (neighbouring)
よこyoko
beside, at the side of
ちかくchikaku
near
あいだaida
between

The pattern

Position words are nouns, so they connect to the reference object with の, and the location gets に:

つくえのうえにほんがありますtsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu
There is a book on the desk.
いすのしたにねこがいますisu no shita ni neko ga imasu
There is a cat under the chair.
かばんのなかにさいふがありますkaban no naka ni saifu ga arimasu
My wallet is in the bag.
えきのまえでまっていますeki no mae de matte imasu
I’m waiting in front of the station.で for where an action happens.

となり vs. よこ

となり is used for things of the same kind side by side: houses, people, shops. よこ simply means at the side of, for anything: ベッドのよこにテーブルがあります.

コンビニはぎんこうのとなりですkonbini wa ginkō no tonari desu
The convenience store is next to the bank.
ぎんこうとゆうびんきょくのあいだですginkō to yūbinkyoku no aida desu
It’s between the bank and the post office.

Asking where

かぎはどこにありますかkagi wa doko ni arimasu ka
Where are the keys?
テーブルのうえですtēburu no ue desu
On the table.

These words are essential for asking directions.

More position words

おくoku
the back, deep insideみせのおく: at the back of the shop.
てまえtemae
just before, this side of
むこうmukō
the other side, over there
まんなかmannaka
the middle, centre
すみsumi
corner (inside a room)
まわりmawari
around, surroundings

てまえ is especially useful in directions: しんごうのてまえです, it’s just before the traffic light.

Position words with actions

With an action, the place takes で instead of に (see に vs. で):

えきのまえでまっていますeki no mae de matte imasu
I’m waiting in front of the station.
いえのちかくではたらいていますie no chikaku de hataraite imasu
I work near my home.
そとであそびましょうsoto de asobimashō
Let’s play outside.

Describe your room

A great exercise: describe your own room in five sentences. For example: へやのまんなかにテーブルがあります。テーブルのうえにパソコンがあります。まどのちかくにベッドがあります。ベッドのしたにねこがいます。 Swap in your own furniture from house and rooms in Japanese.

Where is it?0/3

“The cat is under the table.”
うしろ means:
“In front of the station”:

Frequently asked questions

How do you say on and under in Japanese?

On or above is 上 (ue), under is 下 (shita). Use them with の: つくえのうえ (on the desk), いすのした (under the chair).

What is the difference between tonari and yoko?

となり means next to something of the same kind (houses, shops, people), while よこ simply means at the side of anything.

How do you say where something is in Japanese?

Use the pattern A の [position] に B があります (for things) or います (for people and animals).

How do you say in front of the station in Japanese?

駅の前 (eki no mae). Combine it with に for existence (駅の前にあります) or で for actions (駅の前で待っています).