Grammar · Chapter 14
里, 边: the place word comes last
A + 里 · A + 北边 · A + 后边
A place word goes after the thing it refers to: 书包里 is “in the bag”, 学校北边 is “north of the school”. English puts the preposition first; Chinese puts it last. 前, 后, 里 and 上 often take 边: 前边, 后边, 里边, 上边.
Examples
- 书在书包里。 Shū zài shūbāo li. The book is in the bag.
- 我家在学校北边。 Wǒ jiā zài xuéxiào běibian. My home is north of the school.
- 他在我后边。 Tā zài wǒ hòubian. He is behind me.