בפנים
bifnim
The English phrase 'inside' is translated into Hebrew as בפנים (bifnim).
בפנים is used to describe being within an interior or closest to a specific point of reference. It is frequently used to mean 'indoors' as a contrast to being 'outside' (בחוץ).
Meaning: within the interior of, closest to the center or to a specific point of reference (prep)
Which one should you use?
While בפנים is often used as an adverb meaning 'indoors' or 'in the interior', the word בתוך is the standard preposition used to say 'inside [a specific object or container]'. For example, if you want to say 'inside the box', you would use בתוך הקופסה rather than בפנים הקופסה.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase has a related noun תּוֹךְ which means the interior or inner part, and a related adverb בִּפְנִים which describes the position of being within the interior.
How do you pronounce it?
bifnim
Did you know?
- The word בפנים is built from the same root as פנים, which means 'face'.
- The word פנים is grammatically a 'plural' noun, even when referring to a single 'inside' or a single 'face'.
- Because the root of בפנים refers to 'faces', it can also mean 'inwardly' or 'to oneself' when describing feelings or thoughts.
Examples in context
- אקח את זה בפנים.I'll take it inside.This sentence shows how to use בפנים to mean taking something indoors.Tatoeba #5998732 by fekundulo, translation #1890934 by CK
- יש פה משהו בפנים.There's something inside here.This sentence uses בפנים to indicate something is inside a specific location.Tatoeba #2074441 by fekundulo, translation #2064831 by CK
- תשמרי את תום בפנים.Keep Tom inside.This sentence uses בפנים to instruct someone to keep a person indoors.Tatoeba #5434539 by fekundulo, translation #2235845 by CK
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Rotem are standing outside a locked house.
- דניאל Danielהוא בפנים?hu bifnim?Is he inside?
- רוטם Rotemכן, הוא בפנים.ken, hu bifnim.Yes, he is inside.
- דניאל Danielהיא גם בפנים?hi gam bifnim?Is she inside too?
- רוטם Rotemלא, היא בחוץ.lo, hi bachutz.No, she is outside.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries בפנים, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
