Position Words — 上・下・中・前・後ろ

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to describe where objects and people are using five basic position words: 上 (うえ, ue – above/on), 下 (した, shita – below/under), 中 (なか, naka – inside), 前 (まえ, mae – in front), and 後ろ (うしろ, ushiro – behind). You will use them with the particles に (ni) and の (no).上下中前後

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In Japanese, position words are nouns that tell you where something is. They always come after the thing they describe, connected by the particle の (no). To say "X is [position] Y," you use the pattern:

X は Y の [position word] に あります / います

• あります (arimasu) = exists (for things without life, like books or tables)
• います (imasu) = exists (for living things, like people or animals)

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1. The Five Position Words

2. How to Use Them

To connect a position word to a location, use の (no):

• 机の上 (つくえのうえ, tsukue no ue) = on the desk机上
• いすの下 (いすのした, isu no shita) = under the chair下
• 箱の中 (はこのなか, hako no naka) = inside the box箱中
• 家の前 (いえのまえ, ie no mae) = in front of the house家前
• ドアの後ろ (ドアのうしろ, doa no ushiro) = behind the door後

Then add に (ni) and the verb あります / います to make a full sentence:

• 本は机の上にあります。 (Hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.) = The book is on the desk.本机上
• 猫はいすの下にいます。 (Neko wa isu no shita ni imasu.) = The cat is under the chair.猫下

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1. 猫は箱の中にいます。
   Neko wa hako no naka ni imasu.
   The cat is inside the box.猫箱中

   猫箱中

2. 車は家の前にあります。
   Kuruma wa ie no mae ni arimasu.
   The car is in front of the house.車家前

   車家前

3. 犬はドアの後ろにいます。
   Inu wa doa no ushiro ni imasu.
   The dog is behind the door.犬後

   犬後

4. 鉛筆は本の下にあります。
   Enpitsu wa hon no shita ni arimasu.
   The pencil is under the book.鉛筆本下

   鉛筆本下

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❌ Wrong: 本は机に上にあります。
(Using に directly after the object, then repeating に.)本机上

✅ Correct: 本は机の上にあります。
(Always use の between the object and the position word, then に once.)本机上

Tip: Think of it as a chain:
Object → の → Position → に → Verb

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Fill in the blanks with the correct position word (上・下・中・前・後ろ) and the right verb (あります or います).上下中前後

1. 猫はテーブルの＿＿に＿＿。
   (The cat is under the table.)猫

   猫

2. 先生は教室の＿＿に＿＿。
   (The teacher is in front of the classroom.)先生教室

   先生教室

3. ペンはかばんの＿＿に＿＿。
   (The pen is inside the bag.)

4. 犬は車の＿＿に＿＿。
   (The dog is behind the car.)犬車

   犬車

(Answers: 1. 下 / います, 2. 前 / います, 3. 中 / あります, 4. 後ろ / います)下前中後

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You now know five essential position words and how to use them with の and に. Remember:

• 上 (ue) = on/above上
• 下 (shita) = under下
• 中 (naka) = inside中
• 前 (mae) = in front前
• 後ろ (ushiro) = behind後

Next step: Practice describing where things are in your room or classroom. Then learn more position words like 横 (よこ, yoko – beside) and 隣 (となり, tonari – next to).横隣