Grade 10 Mandarin Chinese Grammar – Word Classes Notes
Mandarin Chinese — Grammar: Word Classes (Prepositions & Interrogative Pronouns)
Age: 15 · Context: Kenyan classroom and daily places (school, market, home). Each example gives Chinese characters, pinyin and English meaning. Key words are highlighted.
1. Key prepositions (介词 / coverbs used like prepositions)
- 在 (zài) — at / in / on (location)
- 到 (dào) — to (motion toward a place)
- 从 (cóng) — from (starting point)
- 往 (wǎng) — toward / to (direction)
2. Common interrogative pronouns (疑问代词)
- 哪里 / 哪儿 (nǎlǐ / nǎr) — where
- 谁 (shéi) — who
- 什么 (shénme) — what
- 哪个 (nǎ ge) — which
3. Basic sentence patterns for location
A. Stative location (where something/someone is):
Subject + 在 + Place (+ 方位词)
Example: 书在桌子上。
Shū zài zhuōzi shàng. — The book is on the table.
Example: 书在桌子上。
Shū zài zhuōzi shàng. — The book is on the table.
B. Motion toward a place:
Subject + Verb + 到 + Place
Example: 我到学校去了。
Wǒ dào xuéxiào qù le. — I went to school.
Example: 我到学校去了。
Wǒ dào xuéxiào qù le. — I went to school.
C. Asking location (use interrogative pronoun where):
Question: 书在哪里？ / 书在哪儿？
Shū zài nǎlǐ? / Shū zài nǎr? — Where is the book?
Shū zài nǎlǐ? / Shū zài nǎr? — Where is the book?
4. Examples using Kenyan school life
Example 1 — In class
桌子上有一本数学课本。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī běn shùxué kèběn.
— There is a maths textbook on the table. (Use to deduce location: it is on top of the table) 📚
桌子上有一本数学课本。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī běn shùxué kèběn.
— There is a maths textbook on the table. (Use to deduce location: it is on top of the table) 📚
Example 2 — Asking where the teacher is
老师在哪里？
Lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ? — Where is the teacher? 👩🏫
老师在哪里？
Lǎoshī zài nǎlǐ? — Where is the teacher? 👩🏫
Example 3 — Going to the market
我们往市场走。
Wǒmen wǎng shìchǎng zǒu. — We walk toward the market. (direction) 🛒
我们往市场走。
Wǒmen wǎng shìchǎng zǒu. — We walk toward the market. (direction) 🛒
Example 4 — Coming from home
他从家里来学校。
Tā cóng jiā lǐ lái xuéxiào. — He came to school from home.
他从家里来学校。
Tā cóng jiā lǐ lái xuéxiào. — He came to school from home.
5. Practice (match the learning outcomes)
-
Deduce location: Read and answer in English where the item is.
- 手机在老师的桌子下面。 (Shǒujī zài lǎoshī de zhuōzi xiàmiàn.)
- 答案: The phone is under the teacher's desk.
-
Use preposition + interrogative pronoun: Translate these into Chinese.
- Where is the library? — ________？
Suggested: 图书馆在哪里？ (Túshūguǎn zài nǎlǐ?) - Where are you going? — ________？
Suggested: 你要到哪里去？ (Nǐ yào dào nǎlǐ qù?)
- Where is the library? — ________？
-
Role-play short dialogue (use preposition & interrogative pronoun):
A: 书在哪儿？ (Shū zài nǎr?) — Where is the book?
B: 在我的背包里。 (Zài wǒ de bèibāo lǐ.) — It is in my backpack.
6. Why prepositions & interrogative pronouns are important
- They help you tell and ask exact locations (important when giving directions in town or at school).
- Using the right preposition (在/到/从/往) makes meaning clear: e.g., 在 = location, 到 = movement toward.
- Interrogative pronouns (哪里/哪儿) let you ask precise questions so you can find people or things quickly.
- Clear language reduces confusion in daily life — e.g., telling a boda boda rider where to go, or asking where a classmate left school books.
7. Quick reference & tips
Tip: 方位词 (position words) like 上 (shàng), 下 (xià), 里 (lǐ), 前 (qián), 后 (hòu) are placed after the noun: 桌子上 (on the table), 房间里 (in the room).
Common question forms:
- Object 在 哪里？ — Where is the object? (书在哪里？)
- 你要 到 哪里 去？ — Where are you going to?
- 你从 哪儿 来？ — Where did you come from?
Practice these patterns with classroom vocabulary (书、课本、桌子、椅子、教室、图书馆、市场、家) every day.
Made for Kenyan learners (age 15). Practice with a friend: ask "哪里?" questions and give directions using 在, 到, 从, 往.