How to Say Up, Down, In Front & Inside in Japanese — Location Words [JLPT N5]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“On the desk,” “in front of the station” — position words 上・下・前・後・中・隣… with the の…に pattern and examples. (JLPT N5)
「ペンはどこ？」 “It's 机の上 (on the desk).”
“Where's the pen?” “On the desk (机の上).” To say where something is, Japanese uses a set of position nouns: 上 (うえ), 下 (した), 前 (まえ), 後ろ (うしろ), 中 (なか), 隣 (となり), 間 (あいだ)… The core pattern is 「A は B の (position) に あります／います」: 机の上にペンがある (there's a pen on the desk), 彼は私の隣にいる (he's next to me). Two keys: の before the position noun, に for where it exists.
Position noun ＋ の ＋ に: pin down “where”
Core pattern: A は B の (position) に あります／います
- 机の上にペンがある (there's a pen on the desk)
- いすの下に猫がいる (there's a cat under the chair)
Two structural keys: ① the position noun is linked with の (机の上, 駅の前); ② existence takes に (objects → ある, people/animals → いる).
Main position nouns
| Position | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 上／下 | うえ／した | above / below |
| 右／左 | みぎ／ひだり | right / left |
| 前／後ろ | まえ／うしろ | front / behind |
| 中／外 | なか／そと | inside / outside |
| 隣／横／間 | となり／よこ／あいだ | next to (adjacent) / beside / between |
Examples in context
- 机の上にペンがあります。(There's a pen on the desk.) — 上 (object → あります)
- 彼は私の隣に立っています。(He's standing next to me.) — 隣 (person → います)
- 車の下に猫がいます。(There's a cat under the car.) — 下
- 本は棚の中にあります。(The book is in the shelf.) — 中 (inside)
- 駅の前に公園があります。(There's a park in front of the station.) — 前
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① Always put の before the position noun. 机の上, 駅の前 (✗ 机上, ✗ 駅前 — those are Sino-Japanese compounds read きじょう／えきまえ, a different thing).
② Existence takes に, action takes で. 部屋の中にいる (be in the room = existence) vs 部屋の中で遊ぶ (play in the room = action). English says “in the room” for both — check whether it's “be” or “do.”
③ Don't mix 隣・横・間. 隣 (となり) = adjacent, same-kind (next door: 家の隣); 横 (よこ) = simply to the side (机の横); 間 (あいだ) = between two things (AとBの間).
🔄 Compare: 隣 / 横 / 間 / そば
| Position | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 隣 (となり) | adjacent, same kind (next door) | 家の隣, 私の隣の席 |
| 横 (よこ) | simply to the side | 机の横 |
| 間 (あいだ) | between two things | AとBの間 |
| そば／近く | nearby (close) | 駅のそば |
💡 The key point in use
Position nouns are easy to memorize; what actually costs points is the little の and に: B の position に — all three parts are needed. Say a few lines like 「机の上にある」「駅の前にある」 until 「の…に」 becomes one rhythm, and you'll stop dropping them. As for 隣・横・間, just remember 「隣 = next door (same kind)」 and use 横 for the rest.
❓ Questions you might have
Q: Are 「机の上」 and 「机上」 the same?
「机の上 (つくえのうえ)」 is everyday “on top of the desk”; 「机上 (きじょう)」 is a Sino-Japanese compound, more literary (机上の空論 = armchair theory). For describing location as a beginner, 「〜の上」 is what you want.
Q: 「私の隣」 vs 「私の横」?
「隣」 carries “same row / same kind, right beside” (next seat, next-door neighbor); 「横」 is just to the left or right. “Sitting next to me” → 隣; “placed beside me” → 横 is more natural.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 机の_____にペンがあります。(choose the best option — a pen on the desk)
(A) 上 (B) 下 (C) 右 (D) 左
Q2. 彼は私の_____に立っています。(he's standing next to me)
(A) 後ろ (B) 前 (C) 隣 (D) 中
Q3. 車の_____に自転車があります。(a bike on the left of the car)
(A) 下 (B) 上 (C) 右 (D) 左
Q4. 本は棚の_____にあります。(the book is in/among the shelf)
(A) 間 (B) 中 (C) 前 (D) 隣
Q5. 駅の_____に公園があります。(a park behind the station)
(A) 中 (B) 前 (C) 後ろ (D) 隣
Answer Key
1. (A) 上 ── on the desk = 上 (on top of).
2. (C) 隣 ── 隣に = next to (beside).
3. (D) 左 ── on the left of the car = 左.
4. (B) 中 ── inside/among the shelf = 中.
5. (C) 後ろ ── behind the station = 後ろ.